Niël Terblanché
Florian Donatus, the newly elected chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council (ERC), has vowed to pursue an agenda of accountability, inclusive growth and accelerated service delivery as he begins his tenure following a recent leadership transition.
Speaking at a press conference in Swakopmund on Wednesday, Donatus acknowledged the turbulence of the past few weeks but affirmed that the council is now ready to move forward.
“I’m humbled to be elected as the chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council,” he said while also expressing appreciation to his fellow councillors and staff for their confidence and professionalism during the transition.
Donatus praised his predecessor, Benitha Imbamba, for her service and pledged to build on the foundations laid by former council leaders.
He also called for strengthened collaboration between the council, the Office of the Governor, and other regional structures.
“It is through collaboration that we can make a difference,” he said
He was referring to the late President Hage Geingob’s emphasis on “institutions, systems and processes” as the formula for service delivery.
Regarding education, Donatus expressed concern about learner performance in the region and proposed a regional education turnaround strategy.
“We can’t continue to send children to the streets. We should be enrolling them in universities, vocational training, and colleges,” he said.
He also indicated that oversight over the Walvis Bay municipality will begin immediately, starting with a review of the Waste Management Department amid concerns about health risks to the community.
He outlined three guiding pillars for his leadership: inclusive economic growth, transparency, and accountability.
“These are not just buzzwords. They are the values that will guide every decision we make,” he said.
He also pledged to operationalise the goals of the National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) through concrete actions.
Donatus addressed economic empowerment through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which he described as a critical tool for supporting small and medium enterprises.
“The materials and support our people want must be procured on time and handed over on time… we need to eradicate poverty, and the more we delay, the people suffer,” he said.
While speaking about infrastructure, he decried the absence of a dedicated regional headquarters and revealed that his first assignment would be to invite the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to witness the region’s operational constraints.
“We are the economic hub of the country. I think it is just fair that the construction of our Regional Headquarters is prioritised in this financial year,” he said.
Donatus also called for unity across political and social divides, urging his colleagues to rededicate themselves to the development of the region.
“I will lead with purpose, work with urgency and serve with integrity. Together, we will continue to move Erongo forward,” he said.
Donatus will be in office until the end of November, when new regional councillors are voted into office after the November Regional Council elections.
