Two-day mayors, chairpersons forum wraps up

Elizabeth Joseph MARIENTALA two-day mayors and chairpersons forum for the //Karas and Hardap regions took place last week under the theme ‘towards co-operative governance in local authority’.According to Mariental mayor Adam Kuhlman, during such forums, the elected office-bearers discuss matters that have a direct impact on the economic well-being of the regions in which they are serving."We want to achieve optimum efficiency and improve service delivery, governance and enhance customer satisfaction through resource-sharing and the elimination of water and electricity systems losses, among other things, while accelerating land and housing delivery," he said.He added that their aim is to further upskill the workforce and improve productivity in a result-oriented work environment.The Mariental leadership wants to strengthen monetary controls as well as better revenue collection where rates and utility unit prices to consumers are concerned, he said.Implemented changeAccording to Kuhlman, the town's municipality has started reducing water costs and basic charges to the most vulnerable.They also pledge to insource service construction as much as possible and invest in local businesses. "We will mobilise investments to venture into massive food production, logistics, manufacturing and renewable energy generation.“The aim is to reduce the power and water we buy from utility companies, upgrade our network assets and improve technical talent in the municipality," he said.During the first session, Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader Bernardus Swartbooi said above all else, such forums are held to deepen cooperation and mutual understanding and share policy implementation strategies and tactics."To ensure that residents in member local authorities are able to obtain the best possible services is the aim of gatherings of this nature.“These noble objectives are timely and urgent, as the world moves toward greater convergence at various frontiers of the economy, and thereby strengthen the ability of humanity to protect lives, create sustainable opportunities for all, and mitigate human suffering globally," he said.Leaders must learnSwartbooi further said that forums like these will encourage both small and bigger local authorities to jointly move upwards in the collective interests for the use of limited resources while expanding opportunities for the younger generations in Namibia."Training and capacity building indabas are required, therefore, to further the crucibles of quality leadership and quality policy deliberations in regional and local councils. Nothing can be more urgent than that! Leaders must learn and learn fast," he said.The events concluded on 3 September.

Two-day mayors, chairpersons forum wraps up

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-24

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Two-day mayors, chairpersons forum wraps up

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-24

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