Africa-Press – Namibia. Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo says Namibians must demand services they voted from the Swapo-led government.
Nekongo was speaking at Mpungu Vlei village in the Kavango West region during the belated Independence celebrations held on Saturday.
“It is because of you that we have the first female president. Unapologetically, it is because of you that I’m standing here as a Member of Parliament. When the president said, ‘it is not business as usual’; the time has come that when you promise, you must honour your promise,” he said.
“We are not here to celebrate. When we were (during campaigns) telling you that we have developed a Swapo Party manifesto, I am also here to inform you that that manifesto, as we speak, has now been Gazetted, and is now a policy directive for government. Everything that we have promised you in that document must now be implemented,” said Nekongo.
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi was the keynote speaker at the event.
“On this historic day, we pay tribute to the gallant sons and daughters of our soil whose sacrifices made Namibia’s independence possible,” he said.
Nekundi said over the last 35 years, Namibia has made significant progress in deepening democracy, maintaining peace and stability, and laying the foundation for socio-economic development.
He had a message from President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
“She emphasised that no region, no constituency, and no citizen should be left behind. The government’s commitment to delivering public infrastructure, improving service delivery, creating jobs, and building resilient communities was echoed as a national priority,” he noted.
The works minister said as Mpungu held belated Independence celebrations, “we must be candid in acknowledging the persistent development challenges in this region. Kavango West remains in need of critical infrastructure upgrades and service expansion,” he said.
Amongst the pressing needs are the upgrade and expansion of roads to connect remote communities and facilitate trade and mobility and the electrification of schools, villages and government institutions in areas like Runda Gona, Sindondora, Katwitwi and Simanya. Youth empowerment initiatives, including the construction of multipurpose youth resource centres and sports fields in Mpungu Vlei and Katwitwi, expansion of Green Scheme irrigation projects in Zone and Katwitwi to boost food security and local economic development, as well as strengthening ICT through radio and mobile networks in isolated areas such as Zigizi, Sondorokeni, Mutengo and Nandingwa are others.
“To the people of Mpungu and Kavango West, I say your voices have been heard. Your aspirations are valid. Your development is a national priority,” he said.
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