Otjiwarongo and Kgatleng renew twinning agreement

OTJIWARONGO, 22 AUG  – The Otjiwarongo Municipality on Tuesday signed a five-year twinning agreement with the Kgatleng District Council from Botswana in the areas of cross-border relationships, culture and economics.
Otjiwarongo Mayor, Bennes Haimbondi at the signing event said the two local authorities will share information, exchange staff and interact regularly on a 12-month basis short plan.
“This is the second time we are twinning. We did it in 2011 for the first time,” said Haimbondi.
The Otjiwarongo mayor said the new five-year agreement should benefit both councils by working closely and sharing experiences, knowledge and information.
Haimbondi wants to see staff skills transfer, cultural and tourism expos taking place in both cities and invitations to each other to strengthen their relationships.
Council Chairman (mayor) of the Kgatleng District Council, Mpho Morolong on his part said the two local authorities will continue to build on what they agreed upon in 2011 in areas of information and staff skills transfers, regular symposiums and seminars.
“All that is needed is more action. This is a noble agreement and it needs to be commended by all of us,” he said.
Morolong suggested the creation of a summit of local authority councils in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), similar to the annual summit of the heads of states of SADC.
“As SADC local authorities we have a lot in common and we need a similar platform to that of our heads of states to learn from one another,” Morolong said.
He was accompanied by two local authority councillors – Kgosietsile Mooketsi and Joseph Setoutwe -as well as the council secretary or chief executive officer, Mpho Mathe and other council officials.
The Kgatleng District Council delegation met with Otjozondjupa Governor, Otto Ipinge and visited the Cheetah Cement factory after the signing of the twinning agreement documents. – NAMPA