15 Jun 2025

Okavango District Council councillors have welcomed the National Decentralisation Draft Policy.

The councillors made the observation during a consultative special full council meeting with Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa on the draft policy in Gumare on Friday. The council chairperson, Mr Brian Samoka said the local authority was prepared to implement the policy.

Already, Mr Samoka said the council had since established an income-generating committee as an investment vehicle to seize opportunities geared toward economic independence by the council. He however emphasised the need for capacitation of councillors since they were going to have more responsibilities to lead some boards and committees once the policy was implemented.

Nominated councillor, Mr Sheta Kafuru said the proposed Decentralisation Policy was a welcome development since it would help empower local authorities to be autonomous and make timely decisions. Seronga-Gunotsoga councillor, Mr Boiteko Marokwa said the local authorities should be empowered to raise revenue from sectors in their districts such as tourism, which dominated the district. 

Minister Motshegwa said the policy sought to empower local authorities to make decisions, which would enhance service delivery. Therefore, he said the local authorities should have investment strategies in place to be able to generate income instead of relying on government. The Minister further encouraged the Okavango District, which remained one of the poorest in the country, to have targeted policies in order to address challenges in the area.

Mr Motshegwa said the Ipelegeng programme, which would transform into a Public Works Programme, would help with construction and maintenance of public facilities adding that the monthly allowance for Ipelegeng workers would be increased to P2 500 and would be implemented soon. ENDS