Lylie Happiness
Okahao, Omusati Region: The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development inaugurated its observance of the African Day of Decentralization, Local Governance, and Local Development at Okahao in the Omusati region. Kavango West Region has been selected to host the 2024 Africa Day of Decentralization, Local Governance, and Local Development. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development launched the Africa Day of Decentralization for the first time in 2014 in Windhoek, and since then, the regions have been selected by means of a draw to host the commemoration.
Omusati Region was selected in 2022 by Kharas Region to host the day on August 10, 2023. The day that was commemorated at Okahao town is under the theme “The Contribution of African Subnational and Local Governments in the Making of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area “. Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development who officiated at the commemoration, said that the day is set aside for Africa to “pause and reflect on the progress that its member states have made and are making in upholding and propagating the values and principles of decentralization, Local governance, and Local development, as well as to take stock of the challenges experienced at the national and continental level, and to best exploit untapped economic prospects locally, continentally, and internationally for shared benefits.” “The African Continental Free Trade Area presents a remarkable opportunity for Namibia to achieve both its national developmental aspirations and also to contribute to the development of our beloved Continent, Africa, and the Free Trade Area (FTA) provides increased opportunities for international and regional trade and investment, value chains, and market access between countries and business sectors for shared benefits.” Said Hon. Uutoni. Mrs. Ndiitah Hipondoka, the Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade, and SME Development, highlighted that Africa is classified as a developing Continent because there are a lot of products and services imported that cannot be manufactured within the continent. Therefore, the African Continental Free Trade Area aims to address the challenges that impede trade within the continent, such as the procedures involved in the average documentation to trade, which contains 20 different parts, 14 documents, and 200 letter elements, which is a lot to get a product from one country to another within the continent, as well as very high transport and freight costs. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement is the largest free Trade Area in the world after the creation of the World Trade Union. While other continents trade among themselves a lot more, this is not the case in Africa. However,Namibia is in the top 10 intra-African traders and doing well at the moment, but it is aiming to do a lot better. ~Namibia Daily News
