Oshakati: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Youth, Civic Relations and Community Development has expressed concern over disputes in the leadership of the Oshana Region, which are delaying the implementation of youth development initiatives and planned sports infrastructure.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the committee's chairperson, Maralyn Mbakera, highlighted the lack of consensus between the Office of the Governor and the Oshana Regional Council over the location of a planned basic sports stadium during an oversight visit to assess the rollout of the Youth Development Fund and basic sports facilities in the region. She stated that the committee would not take sides in the dispute but warned that continued disagreements were depriving young people of services.
Mbakera expressed disappointment that infighting and the lack of consensus were preventing people from accessing services, with young people resorting to playing soccer in the streets despite provisions made for a stadium. She also criticised the region's performance in implementing the Youth Development Fund, indicating that the committee would have to report that Oshana was underperforming in both youth empowerment and sports infrastructure.
In response, Oshana Regional Council Chairperson Abraham Kaushiweni explained that the council had complied with a request from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture to identify sites for the sports facilities and had submitted its recommendation along with a council resolution before the current governor assumed office. Kaushiweni said the dispute began after a different site was proposed by the governor, despite the council having already approved sites for the project. He noted that the council deliberated on the matter three times and resolved to retain the originally identified sites of Eheke and Uukwiyuushona.
Oshana Governor Hofni Iipinge stated that the construction of the two basic sports facilities had been delayed by an administrative dispute over who should implement the project, despite funds being available. Iipinge remarked that although the groundbreaking was completed peacefully, administrative issues led to conflicts, resulting in the exchange of various correspondences. On the National Youth Development Fund, Iipinge mentioned that he could not provide the number of beneficiaries in the region as his office no longer administers the programme and does not receive beneficiary reports.