24 Oct 2022

Residents of Gumare have embraced the decision by government to turn their village into headquarters of the envisioned Okavango full district council. 

The residents made the remarks at a consultative meeting by Assistant Minister of Local Government, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele on restructuring of councils last week in Gumare. When commenting, Gumare Central Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairperson, Mr Osefelepelo Gaebolae welcomed both the decision and decentralisation of the councils. 

Another resident, Mr Motamedi Moqwa also appreciated that Gumare was identified as fully fleshed district headquarters. Mr Gideon Mathethe of Gumare welcomed the development and said it was high time their area had developments such as higher learning institutions. 

One Mr Dinta Kelapile said when welcoming the decision, that the new council should be named Gumare North Council.

In his remarks, assistant minister Modukanele informed residents that Okavango sub district was among the 11 sub districts that have been upgraded in phase one implementation of restructuring of councils. 

He said being an independent council would help to speed up decision-making and service delivery.Mr Modukanele explained that issues considered in upgrading some sub councils were vastness of the area and population. In his vote of thanks the area Member of Parliament for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama welcomed the development to upgrade Okavango sub district as well as make Gumare the district headquarters as it already had some structures and services in place.ENDS