Hertta-Maria Amutenja
OMUSATI region Governor Erginus Endjala has called for the review of some economic policies in order to transform the region.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on the Parliamentary Standing Committee visiting Omusati region, Endjala said, there is a need for policy review to achieve the dream of economic transformation.
”We want to see economic transformation, but in order for that to happen we need to review some of the economic policies. If we also want to transform agriculture in our region, farming policies need to be reviewed to economically accommodate communal and commercial farmers and not only give preference to commercial farmers,” said Endjala.
Most of the farmers in the communal areas in Omusati region cultivate Mahangu (Pearl Millet) fields.
The Economics and Public Administration Committee is visiting the Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto regions to conduct oversight reviews to industrial parks and SME centers.
While another Parliamentary Committee on natural resources will hold public hearings and stakeholder consultation on the motion on lithium mining at Uis in the Erongo region from 30 July to 4 August, the standing committee will be consulting with selected stakeholders while the National Assembly is in recess until September.
The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee will tour programmes for marginalised communities as well as regional offices of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Omusati, Kunene, Zambezi, Kavango West, and Kavango East areas.
In the meantime, the Human Resources and Community Development Committee will be holding public hearings and consults with stakeholders on the motion on young unemployment.
Meanwhile, from the August 5-9, the Natural Resources Committee will be in the Zambezi, Kavango East, and West regions for public hearings and consultations on the issue of human-wildlife conflict, while from August 7-11, the Economics and Public Administration Committee will conduct an oversight visit to the Skeleton Coast on diamond deposits in the Kunene region.
Also, the Natural Resources Committee will hold public hearings on the seal motion in Swakopmund, while the Gender Equality, Social and Family Affairs Committee will visit the Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto areas to undertake public hearings on petitions for gender-based violence and the motion for mental health from 7 to 11 August.
The Economics and Public Administration Committee will travel to Oshana, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, Ohangwena, and //Kharas areas to learn about railway and infrastructure administration, while from 13 to 19 August, the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Security Committee will conduct oversight visits to police accommodation, defense barracks, the air force, and prisons in the //Kharas and Hardap regions, while the Public Accounts Committee will hold public hearings in Otjiwarongo.
From August 20 to 25, the Human Resources and Community Development Committee will go to the Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, and Ohangwena regions to perform public hearings and stakeholder discussions on the motion on Water and Power.
While the Public Accounts Committee will conduct oversight visits to government assets in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, and Omusati regions from August 20 to 25.
All standing committees will be at Swakopmund from August 27 to September 2 for Etiquette and Diplomacy training.
