Governor fumes as education officials skip arts festival

Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses has demanded accountability after senior education officials and regional leaders skipped the opening of the Erongo Arts and Culture Regional Festival 2026 in Karibib on Monday.

“Today I am lonely. I was lonely. There is no regional leader here,” she said at the official opening of the festival.

/Goagoses criticised the absence of the acting director of education, deputy director, education officers, inspectors and other senior officials.

She also took issue with the no-show of the Erongo Regional Council chairperson and the chief regional officer responsible for decentralised education functions.

“I was expecting the acting director to be here. I was expecting the deputy director of education to be here. I was expecting all the education officers of Erongo region to be here. I was expecting all the inspectors of education in Erongo region to be here,” /Goagoses said.

The governor said she had spoken to education minister Sanet Steenkamp about what she had observed.

“I expressed my disappointment to Dr Sanet Steenkamp of what I have seen," she said.

“How the programme was arranged, why the leaders are not present, and why the directorate management is not present must be explained to the governor after this event,” /Goagoses demanded.

She added that the no-shows should not be tolerated or condoned.

The governor contrasted the absence of regional leadership with the attendance of Karibib deputy mayor Petrus Ntotoni, whom she praised for attending at short notice and delivering welcoming remarks.

“That's leadership,” /Goagoses said.

She also acknowledged the presence of the regional culture officer and her team, an education inspector from Omaruru, law enforcement officers, artists and cultural practitioners.

Delegates from Oshikoto, Khomas, Ohangwena, Zambezi, Omaheke, Omusati and Oshana were also present at the festival’s opening, which is being held under the theme ‘Preserving Our Heritage, Celebrating Our Identity’ at the Usab Sports Field in Karibib until 21 August.

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