19 Oct 2022

Shakawe residents have welcomed the decision by government to upgrade Okavango Sub-district to a fully-fledged district.

The residents welcomed the decision during a kgotla meeting to brief them about restructuring of councils, which was addressed by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele in Shakawe on Tuesday.

However, most residents were of the view that the district headquarters of Okavango be moved to Shakawe from Gumare as was planned.

The assistant minister had earlier on informed residents that Okavango Sub-district was among the 11 that would be upgraded in phase I of the implementation plan.

Mr Modukanele said the aim was to upgrade the existing sub-districts without changing their location since it was cost-effective.

He said upgrading considered factors such as the vastness of the areas, population size, infrastructure and availability of funds.

Mr Modukanele observed that upgrading of the sub-council would help in decentralisation as decisions would be taken in Okavango instead of Maun, which was the district headquarters.

Responding to residents, the assistant minister said the people of Shakawe were at liberty to share their views as government valued consultations.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Moheto Nyumba of Nganrange expressed a wish for the headquarters to be based in Shakawe as it would serve the people of Okavango better without disadvantaging people on the Eastern side of the Okavango River known as overseas.

In comments, Retired Major Lefedile Andreck said Shakawe was developing faster compared to Gumare, hence it was ideal that it served as the district headquarters.

A resident, Ms Maenga Mbambo also said she was happy about the development to have Okavango as a full district and also suggested that Shakawe be the district headquarters.

In his vote of thanks, the area Member of Parliament for Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga observed that the district headquarters were earmarked for Gumare as the existing sub-district headquarters.

However, Mr Kapinga concurred with residents that Shakawe deserved the district headquarters as it was the biggest village in the Okavango.

Mr Kapinga said considering issues of existing structures, as a transitional process, the headquarters could be temporarily based in Gumare. BOPA