Oranjemund mayor pledges to be a good servant
ORANJEMUND – The newly elected mayor for Oranjemund, Elias Kasemba said political leaders have duties to serve others through service delivery and improving their living standards through socio- economic development.
This, he said can be achieved to a great extent through partnerships between the public and private sectors as well as communitybased organizations.
“I accept this civic duty with humility and passion to serve our community and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve in this capacity,’’ Kasemba said in his inaugural mayoral address.
The mayor said he is fully aware of the challenges facing the community and challenges associated with the economic transformation of the town.
“Many of the challenges we are facing as a community can only be addressed properly if all of us work together as a community with clear intent to make Oranjemund sustainable,” said the major. The provision of housing, the deficit of direct investment to the town given its history, unemployment amongst the youth and job creation are amongst other challenges faced by council, he said.
He said the council will focus on rolling out a flexible land tenure system to make land available and affordable to the majority of lowincome groups.
With regard to attracting investments, the mayor explained that the Oranjemund town council has already adopted an investment policy with a view to attract and retain existing businesses.
The mayor also said they will make provision for incentives to deserving investors in order to ensure the much-needed financial injection for the town.
About youth unemployment, he said stakeholders such as the Development Bank of Namibia will be engaged to access financial schemes that support youth empowerment and youth projects.
Ka s emb a said an implementation plan will be drafted for the upgrading and replacement of ageing infrastructures.
Meanwhile, the mayor made an appeal to the Oranjemund community to put their differences aside and jointly pursue socioeconomic advancement of the town and Namibia in general.
Kasemba in conclusion expressed his appreciation for his predecessor for leaving them, the newly elected council - a strong foundation for the future to build on the sustainability and prosperity of the town.
The council is comprised of seven councillors, of which the Swapo Party and Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) have three representatives each with one representative from the Landless People’s Movement.