Omaheke SORA on Tuesday

GOBABIS, 23 Apr – Governor of the Omaheke Region, Festus Ueitele is on Tuesday expected to deliver his annual State Of the Region Address (SORA), in which the challenges and achievements of the region will be highlighted.
Many residents of Omaheke that Nampa spoke to on their expectations of the SORA have raised concern over the high poverty levels, lack of development and unemployment as challenges facing the region.
They are of the opinion that unless poverty is addressed fully in the region, Omaheke will consistently lag behind in comparison to other regions.
“We have such a small population, but the regional government is struggling to feed us all. This is not good as people are really poor here and many often go to bed on empty stomachs,” Robert Swartbooi, an Omaheke native told Nampa.
Another resident, Maria Kapere said unemployment has taken a toll on her household as she is a single mother with no source of income and four other mouths to feed.
“We do odd jobs around here just to get by and it is just not enough. Imagine standing on your feet the whole day ironing someone’s clothes and just being paid N.dollars 30 for your work,” she said.
Omaheke has been consistently ranked as one of the poorest regions in the country, with a seemingly high illiteracy rate as per figures released by the Namibia Statistics Agency.
The region’s education sector has however been on the mending path, with improved performance in Grade 12 results over the past five years recorded. The region also managed to score with some of its Grade 12 learners placed among the country’s top individual performers.
The health sector, according to previous SORA statements by Ueitele, has also achieved remarkable strides by successfully bringing most health centres and clinics within reach of the wider community.
The SORA is delivered annually by each region’s governor, shortly after the Head of State delivers the State of the Nation Address.
(NAMPA)