Maria David
THE Association of Regional Councils in Namibia (ARC) has called for the decentralization of all ministries to ensure service delivery in the country.
ARC president Matengu Simushi said there are some line ministries not wanting to decentralize their faction, making it difficult for them to address many of the challenges faced by the people they serve.
Simushi made the remarks during the congress of the Association for Local Authorities Namibia (ALAN) at Oshakati on Thursday, saying if they are about to bring development to the people then the Decentralization Enabling Act should be implemented.
“We are facing problems at our local authorities and regional councils,” he said.
Simushi said there is a need for ARC and ALAN to join efforts and address issues of common interest or concern through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He said there is a need to establish legislative arrangements for recognizing local government associations in the Regional Councils and Local Authorities Acts by appointing an independent expert panel on the legal recognition of local government associations.
Namibian Association of Local Authority Officials (NALAO) president Moses Matyayi said local authorities are the key drivers of socio-economic development in the country, but the local government also faces several challenges.
Matyayi said formal and legislated recognition of ALAN and NALAO has faced an unreasonable delay in the implementation of the local authority.
“We are also faced with a lack of stability at the political or administrative interface that leads to a high number of unprocedural suspensions of CEOs and senior professionals,” he added.
NALAO also called on the strengthening of institutional and corporate governance and performance management in local authorities.
Matyayi said they remain unwavering in their commitment to work with ALAN and other actors in the local government sphere to present common policy positions on key issues, continue representing local government interests and provide solutions to challenges facing local government.
