MURD and stakeholders reviewing and amending Regional Councils Act

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The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) and its stakeholders are reviewing and amending a second draft of the Regional Councils Act 1992.

The Act 22 of 1992, which consists specifically of the provisions that are governing human resources matters, ensures the ministry and its stakeholders meet and deliver fundamental needs to the Namibian people.

MURD minister, Erastus Uutoni expressed that among others, reports of poor service and in some cases mismanagement as well as conflicts among and between councillors and officials are some of the reasons for poor service delivery.

Uutoni was speaking at the opening of the Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on the Regional Councils Draft Amendment Bill in Swakopmund on Monday.

“The ministry’s responsibility entails ensuring appropriate governance structures that will enable the citizens to exercise their democratic rights and for them to take part in the planning and in bringing about their development, as well as the provision of basic infrastructure and services for them to live a decent and dignified life.”

According to Uutoni, in order for the ministry and stakeholders to effectively execute this mandate, it is critical that they have necessary legal instruments and administrative systems.

“While legal instruments such as the Regional Councils Act are in place, we know too well that such a law was enacted some years back, therefore there is a need to constantly amend laws in order to respond to new challenges and obligations hindering effective governance,” he said.

The other issue that has necessitated a re-examination of the current Regional Councils Act is concerns about unwarranted political interference in administrative operations of regional councils.

The two-day workshop, which is attended by regional governors, chief regional officers, chairpersons of management committees, among others, is aimed at offering stakeholders an opportunity to give meaningful contributions into the second draft of the Regional Councils’ Amendment Bill.

The meeting is also aimed at producing the third draft of the same Bill.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency