Natis on Wheels launched in Omatjete

The Ministry of Works and Transport officially launched a Natis on Wheels truck in Omatjete in the Erongo region this week.

The mobile truck is expected to benefit residents of Omatjete, Okombahe, Uis and other nearby settlements.

Speaking at the launch, Daures constituency councillor Inecia Brandt said: "Today marks an important milestone, a very important one for the Daures constituency, particularly Omatjete and the surrounding communities of Okombahe and Uis," she said.

Brandt said residents had often been forced to spend considerable time and money travelling to urban centres to complete basic transactions.

"Such journeys often require significant financial resources, time away from work and family commitments and additional logistical arrangements,” she said.

“For many rural residents, these challenges have at times delayed access to important services such as vehicle registration, licence renewals and other transport-related transactions.”

The Natis on Wheels truck is a purpose-built mobile registering authority offering services including vision testing, biometric capturing, computerised learner licence testing and the issuing of vehicle licences.

Smart move

Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi said the launch demonstrated government's commitment to improving service delivery across the country.

He said the truck, including the vehicle, modifications and installed equipment, cost N$4.2 million and was fully funded by government.

"This is significantly less than what it costs to construct and equip a conventional registering authority," he said.

"In a time when government resources are constrained, and every Namibian dollar must be stretched as far as possible, this is exactly the kind of innovative, cost-effective thinking we need. This is not a compromise. This is smart governance."

The minister added that plans include procuring additional mobile trucks to service more towns, villages and settlements simultaneously across the country.

"These mobile offices will also be strategically deployed to augment capacity at large, high-traffic registering authorities, helping to reduce waiting times and ease congestion at our busiest Natis centres. This means the benefits of this truck will be felt not only in remote communities, but also by clients in urban areas who are currently burdened by long queues."