The Oshikoto Regional Council has approved the formalisation of the Etosha informal location in the Onayena settlement, in order to accelerate service delivery and properly coordinate development at the residential area.
According to Oshikoto Chief Regional Officer, Christella Mwenyo, infrastructure development, land allocation and occupation in the Etosha informal area were placed at a halt a couple of years ago, until such a time that the council finalises the proper demarcation of the area.
Mwenyo, in a media release issued on Thursday, said the decision to formalise the informal location was done in accordance with the council’s mandate to undertake planning, development, coordination and provision of government services.
“Following this approval, the council is set to embark on sourcing funds from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to develop and service the land, before the area is officially formalised,” Mwenyo noted.
Other resolutions taken by the council include the approval to conduct a socio-economic assessment, which aims at assessing both social and economic conditions at the newly declared settlement in Tsintsabis.
The assessment also aims to inform future councils’ decisions, pertaining to the provision of quality services to the inhabitants of Tsintsabis.
“Council has also approved the utilisation of funds amounting to N.dollars 29 989.52, allocated to Ndinelago-Elwatha pipeline, to remunerate project members who excavated pipelines in Eengodi, Okankolo and Olukonda Constituencies.”
Recommendations to the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare were also done for that ministry to approve the establishment of new social grant pay points in the Onyaanya Constituency.
This, according to the council, will minimise the long distances walked by residents in the identified communities to go and receive their social grants.
The proposed pay points are Etunda No. 1 village in Eyambidhidho and Onalukulo village in the Ethikilo centre.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
