Erongo governor calls for efficient service delivery
Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses has stressed that it cannot be “business as usual” when it comes to serving the region's citizens.
She made these remarks during an internal induction workshop for regional councillors, which kicked off on Tuesday in Swakopmund and concluded on Wednesday.
“Operational efficiency requires that, at all levels, we deliver quality services without compromise to the people we serve – in our constituencies, local authorities and traditional authorities," she said.
She added: “Ultimately, this is why we were elected and appointed: to serve with integrity and excellence. Political office bearers and administrators must therefore work together, with a shared understanding of our objectives, to ensure effective governance within our regional institutions.”
|Goagoses emphasised that service delivery must remain a top priority.
“I know you only came on board after being elected in November, but the speed and operational efficiencies that communities have already started experiencing from you are positive."
She warned that on the other hand, "when challenges persist, the community first looks to us for consistency. I do not want to arrive unannounced at a constituency or settlement office on a Friday and find no official present, or to find someone sitting with their legs on the table telling the governor, ‘It’s my free day, and it’s my payday.’ This cannot happen. Authority must be clearly assigned in writing whenever senior officials are away from the office,” |Goagoses said.
Collective mandate
The governor underlined that councillors’ mandate extends beyond individual constituencies.
“Councillors are collectively responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing development across the entire region. Decisions taken in council chambers affect towns, settlements and rural communities alike. We must work from shared priorities, informed by credible statistics such as the 2023 population census report.”
|Goagoses further highlighted the critical importance of the relationship between political leadership and the administration.
“Political leaders must not interfere in administrative processes, and administrators must not undermine political authority," she stressed.
"Councillors must provide strategic direction and oversight, while professionals execute lawful decisions competently and ethically. Intervention is appropriate only when submissions are inadequate, unsupported by facts or legally unsound – and even then, it must be constructive,” she said.
The road ahead
The governor also noted that the region faces complex challenges, including water security, urban expansion, unemployment and pressure on infrastructure.
"Addressing these challenges requires informed, decisive and ethical leadership, guided by transparency and prudent management of public resources," she said.
She urged all policymakers to familiarise themselves fully with the policies and legal instruments governing regional councils, local authorities, traditional authorities and industries operating within our region.
The workshop covered key departments and sectors, including planning, technical and legal services, administration, finance, internal audit, land reform, health, education, gender, water supply, and information and communication. These areas represent some of the core functions entrusted to the Erongo Regional Council.
She made these remarks during an internal induction workshop for regional councillors, which kicked off on Tuesday in Swakopmund and concluded on Wednesday.
“Operational efficiency requires that, at all levels, we deliver quality services without compromise to the people we serve – in our constituencies, local authorities and traditional authorities," she said.
She added: “Ultimately, this is why we were elected and appointed: to serve with integrity and excellence. Political office bearers and administrators must therefore work together, with a shared understanding of our objectives, to ensure effective governance within our regional institutions.”
|Goagoses emphasised that service delivery must remain a top priority.
“I know you only came on board after being elected in November, but the speed and operational efficiencies that communities have already started experiencing from you are positive."
She warned that on the other hand, "when challenges persist, the community first looks to us for consistency. I do not want to arrive unannounced at a constituency or settlement office on a Friday and find no official present, or to find someone sitting with their legs on the table telling the governor, ‘It’s my free day, and it’s my payday.’ This cannot happen. Authority must be clearly assigned in writing whenever senior officials are away from the office,” |Goagoses said.
Collective mandate
The governor underlined that councillors’ mandate extends beyond individual constituencies.
“Councillors are collectively responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing development across the entire region. Decisions taken in council chambers affect towns, settlements and rural communities alike. We must work from shared priorities, informed by credible statistics such as the 2023 population census report.”
|Goagoses further highlighted the critical importance of the relationship between political leadership and the administration.
“Political leaders must not interfere in administrative processes, and administrators must not undermine political authority," she stressed.
"Councillors must provide strategic direction and oversight, while professionals execute lawful decisions competently and ethically. Intervention is appropriate only when submissions are inadequate, unsupported by facts or legally unsound – and even then, it must be constructive,” she said.
The road ahead
The governor also noted that the region faces complex challenges, including water security, urban expansion, unemployment and pressure on infrastructure.
"Addressing these challenges requires informed, decisive and ethical leadership, guided by transparency and prudent management of public resources," she said.
She urged all policymakers to familiarise themselves fully with the policies and legal instruments governing regional councils, local authorities, traditional authorities and industries operating within our region.
The workshop covered key departments and sectors, including planning, technical and legal services, administration, finance, internal audit, land reform, health, education, gender, water supply, and information and communication. These areas represent some of the core functions entrusted to the Erongo Regional Council.
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