05 Mar 2026

Okavango District councillors have called for implementation of the council’s roadmap to realise results.

Commenting on the chairman’s speech during a full council meeting recently, the council’s leader of opposition, who is a nominated councillor Mr Lekonne Masoko said it was time for the council to spring to action and change the status quo of the Okavango District from being the poorest and harness it’s rich natural resources for economic benefit of the district.

Mr Masoko said cultural heritage, tourism as well as agriculture and their value chains were among areas that should be explored by the council to attract investors and tourists.

He said the council’s Local Economic Development (LED) committee responsible for fostering economic growth, job creation and sustainable growth should start functioning to ensure the council generated income.

For instance, Mr Masoko said the Okavango District was said to have the highest herd of cattle, therefore the establishment of slaughter slabs and abattoirs would go a long way in benefiting from the agricultural sector.

Councillor for Seronga-Gunotsoga, Mr Boiteko Marokwa said for LED to be effective, there was need for the council to assess impact organisations such as business associations and community trusts and form alliances for the betterment of the district.

Mr Marokwa also said the district should also find gaps in the national import bill to produce and supply some goods such as cooking oil, citing an association that produced cooking oil from the Mongongo tree in Okavango, which could be aided to produce at a larger scale. Nominated councillor, Mr Sheta Kafuru said there was need to revive some ailing community trusts to be instrumental in economic growth of the district by establishing tangible projects of economic benefit such as shopping markets and guesthouses.

In his remarks, the council  chairman Mr Gaopalelwe Ronald highlighted the council’s commitment to transform the district to be a hub for sustainable livelihoods, strong local governance and inclusive socio economic development.

Mr Ronald said the National Development Plan 12 programmes and projects approval was expected to ensure the district improve in job creation, aid investment and socio-economic advancement for all. He observed that the community had welcomed the council’s roadmap warmly after intensive consultations. ENDS