Rehoboth to hold stakeholders conference on Thursday

REHOBOTH, 01 AUG  – The Rehoboth Town Council will on Thursday hold its first annual stakeholders conference with relevant role players and community members at the Hermanus van Wyk Hall.
According to ministerial representative Nathalia |Gôagoses, who spoke to Nampa on Wednesday, the conference is the first of its kind in the southern town and will be held under the banner ‘For the good of all’.
“The aim of the event is to create a platform for all stakeholders to engage and deliberate on matters relating to council affairs and the social-economic upliftment of the town and its residents. We need the residents to take ownership of the town’s development and to help move it to the next level, which is to bring it to municipality status,” |Gôagoses said.
She said the idea for the conference was triggered by the town hall meeting she held with residents upon her appointment as ministerial representative.
“During the meeting, residents raised pertinent issues such as lack of services, housing and dilapidated infrastructure like roads and sewerage stations. I have also observed during my short time here that the town council is ignoring the expectations of the residents and with this conference, we want everyone to address these issues and find solutions for the problems.”
Rehoboth, she explained, has strong underwater reservoirs and needs to harvest its own water to ease the financial burden on the town council, as most of the expenses are going towards paying bulk suppliers such as NamWater and Nampower.
“We have lined up people who are experts in different areas that will give presentations in this regard. We also need to explain the roles we have towards the community and the role the community has towards the RTC,” |Gôagoses said.
She added that the community and other stakeholders are positive and fired up about the conference.
Among the speakers will be Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Peya Mushelenga; Omaruru Town Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alfons Tjitombo who will deliver a presentation on harvesting underground water and Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Acting CEO, Charity Mwiya.
The topics covered will include local economic development, facilitated by a representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation and civic education by the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
The event will also be attended by Hardap Governor Esme Isaack and local authority and regional councillors.
NAMPA