'Get out of our offices, go where the people are'

Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate says expecting people outside Windhoek to rely solely on the capital for essential government services defeats the purpose of decentralisation.

Speaking to Namibian Sun on Monday during a courtesy visit by the home affairs ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Gobabis ahead of the rollout of electronic identification (e-ID) cards, Nganate said the perception that the town's proximity to Windhoek makes access easier ignores the realities faced by many residents.

"Omaheke is a region that is as vast as any other region and I think many people are misconstruing Gobabis being close to Windhoek as we are close to services, but Windhoek is altogether a region on its own," he said.

Nganate said he does not support the practice of clustering services in central locations and referring residents to Windhoek for assistance.

"You basically want to go to a centre within the region and get all your answers as opposed to being referred to Windhoek," he said. "That does not even adhere to the principle of decentralisation. Decentralisation is bringing government closer to the people."

The governor said planning should focus on where people live rather than where government offices are located.

As an example, Nganate pointed to Kanaan, where he said between 4 000 and 5 000 people live without access to a clinic, although a police station is now being built to serve the community.

"The same marginalisation that is sometimes happening at government level also happens at regional government level. We do not take services to where the people are, and that should be the new thing whenever we plan," he said.

"We must get out of our offices, our comfort zones, and go where the people are," Nganate said.

Practical on-the-ground assistance

Nganate also reflected on a recent government outreach exercise in the remote Otwinjo area of the Bukurus constituency, describing it as an eye-opener after residents welcomed officials who brought information about government services.

He said future outreach programmes should go beyond awareness campaigns by providing services such as birth registrations, birth certificates and health services on site.

"It should not only be verbal, but it should be practical, where birth certificates are given on site, registrations are done on site and health services are given on site," he said.

He welcomed plans by the Ministry of Health and Social Services to reintroduce mobile clinics, saying government departments should increasingly take services to communities instead of expecting residents to travel to constituency or regional offices.

Local access

Nganate's remarks echo findings in the National Planning Commission's 2023 Vision 2030 Review, which states that efforts to reduce inequality and improve access to services are more effective when authority and responsibilities are decentralised to institutions at the local level. The review also cites concerns raised by United Nations agencies over continued centralised decision-making, saying it limits public participation and the delivery of accessible public services.

The same review further found that weak consultation and limited outreach had left many communities feeling disconnected from national development planning, despite Vision 2030's emphasis on inclusive governance.

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