Governor touts Omaheke gains
Patience Makwele Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate has defended the region’s development record, pointing to gains in agriculture, healthcare, housing and infrastructure while arguing that mining could become a pathway out of poverty for thousands of residents. However, community members say many rural areas continue to see little change despite decades of government promises, warning that […]
Patience Makwele
Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate has defended the region’s development record, pointing to gains in agriculture, healthcare, housing and infrastructure while arguing that mining could become a pathway out of poverty for thousands of residents.
However, community members say many rural areas continue to see little change despite decades of government promises, warning that development remains concentrated around Gobabis while communal areas continue to lag behind.
Delivering his State of the Region Address (SORA) in Gobabis on Tuesday under the theme Unlocking Omaheke’s Industrial Potential through Mining and Manufacturing, Nganate said agriculture remains the backbone of the regional economy as it employs about 29% of the population while sustaining thousands of livelihoods.
He said government support through the agriculture ministry’s Dryland Crop Production Programme expanded cultivated land from 500 hectares to more than 800 hectares during the latest farming season, with 600 hectares directly supported through government tractors and private tractor subsidies.
“The total area under crop production increased from 500 to above 800 hectares this year,” Nganate said.
