Epupa pulls in one direction
Traditional authorities, along with the newly elected Epupa constituency councillor in the Kunene region, Tjiumutambo Kuuoko, have vowed to set aside their political differences for the betterment and development of the constituency.
TheEpupaconstituency,termed as one of the most impoverished within the Kunene, has also been over the years hit hard by drought that almost wiped out more than 50% of its livestock, coupled with stock theft, hunger and the poor quality of its health services, all of which are retarding progress of the constituency, senior councillor of the Otjikaoko Traditional Authority, Mathews Ruhozu, has said.
Ruhozu told Nampa recently that variances of the past cannot be repeated in this new era, adding that it is now time for leaders from all spheres of life to collectively work together for improved developmental projects.
“We have to pull in the same direction if we want to succeed. We will not linger on old ways of not supporting fairly elected councillors because of our political preferences. We as traditional authorities made it our mandate to support whoever emerges victorious during the election and will assist whenever we can,” he said.
Echoing Ruhozu sentiments was the chief of the Kapika Traditional Authority, Hikuminue
Kapika, who said the constituency is in dire need of revamping in terms of better-improved health and schools facilities, roads as
well as the conservancy network.
He said his authority has played an instrumental role in the past in terms working closely with the government when it comes to developmental projects such as the conservancy, literacy and youth initiative programmes, adding that this will continue.
Epupa constituency councillor Kuuoko reiterated his stance on working with traditional authorities, stating that the council office has always been open to suggestions by the authorities, adding that they also met up last week through the Community Development Committee (CDC), where the council leaders also pushed for a united front from all traditional authorities.
The Epupa constituency lies on the Namibian border with Angola and has a population of just over 17 500, with economic activities in the area mainly focused on agriculture and tourism. -Nampa