Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, said local authorities and regional councils should embrace and prioritise developing local cultures and arts to harness the potential they offer for the development of the local and national economy.
Uutoni said on Tuesday in a statement read on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Nathalia /Goagoses. This was during the Commemoration of the Africa day of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development held in Windhoek.
He said that cultural productions can contribute to the development of a locality by creating much-needed employment and economic value, which translates into improvement of the quality of life for local communities. Because it has been proven worldwide that one of the drivers of local economic development is a positive image of a town or a region where cultural assets are identified and purposely marketed, culture can contribute to a better living environment, whether in urban or rural areas.
‘To unleash the potential of arts and culture, local authorities and regional councils must consider innovative strategies such as promoting seasonal festivals where local communities can market local products without charging fees,’ said Uutoni, adding that the values of access to cultural heritage, the tangible and the intangible, are of paramount importance in defining who the people of Namibia are. Therefore, culture must be preserved, promoted and guarded jealously.
‘Central government will continue with its commitment to supporting sub-national governments, as well as the full implementation of the decentralisation policy for improved service delivery and sustainable development,’ he said.
Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Faustina Caley, who spoke at the same occasion, said the arts, heritage and culture sector is among the hardest hit by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and in relieving the sector, the ministry availed funds to strengthen their systems and processes, in order to remain relevant in these uncertain times and enable online transitions and business opportunities for local artists and cultural practitioners.
Source: Namibai Press Agency