'A fire does not wait for office hours'

Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge has slammed a lack of coordination and preparedness among institutions that form part of the regional disaster risk management committee, following a veld fire in Uuvudhiya Constituency last weekend.

Speaking during a meeting in Oshakati, Iipinge said emergency response systems must be ready at all times.

“A fire does not wait for office hours, meetings or administrative processes. Our systems must therefore be ready to respond immediately, in a coordinated and efficient manner,” he said.

The governor stressed that committee membership is not ceremonial and attendance should not be treated as optional.

“Every institution represented on this committee has a specific mandate and responsibility under the national disaster risk management framework,” he said.

The meeting aims to improve coordination among emergency response teams in the region to ensure faster and more effective action during disasters.

-Loise Shiimi