Africa-Press – Namibia. The Khomasdal constituency, like many others, is on a mission to improve the lives of its people.
A host of interviews were conducted recently as part of the pre-election coverage initiative by the New Era newspaper.
It seeks to delve into the intricacies of constituency and regional governance, unpacking initiatives undertaken by the councillors’ offices since assuming office in 2020, the degree of their successes, and the obstacles encountered along the way.
Samuel Angolo is the man at the helm of this constituency.
Since assuming the hotseat, he has been fighting an uphill battle to deliver on campaign promises, citing the absence of a Constituency Development Fund (CDF), land ownership issues and bureaucratic red tape as the main stumbling blocks. Despite these challenges, Angolo highlighted several community upliftment projects achieved
during his five-year tenure, mostly made possible through partnerships with government ministries, the City of Windhoek and other stakeholders.
“This is a constituency office, part of the Khomas Regional Council. Unfortunately, we don’t have our own budget. There is no budget given directly for us to develop our people,” he stated.
Priorities
The councillor said he came into office with clear priorities – tackling unemployment
and improving education. However, implementing those plans proved difficult because regional councillors lack direct control over the land and finances needed for development.
“The land is not in our hands. It belongs to the City of Windhoek. We struggled even to get a small piece of land just to set up a community Wi-Fi hub,” he lamented.
Without the CDF, constituency offices have to rely on stakeholders like ministries and municipal authorities for any development.
This dependence delays or prevents implementation of planned initiatives.
“CDF was never implemented. It was meant for each constituency to have its own budget so you can come together with the Constituency Development Committees (CDCs), and come up with tangible plans,” he said.
Currently, constituencies do not even have bank accounts, which has raised questions about how future CDF funds would be managed. Angolo said ongoing efforts are being made to finalise the CDF policy, including identifying accounting officers at the constituency level who can manage funds directly.
“We attended a workshop in Rundu to fine-tune the CDF Bill. We are working out who should be the accounting officer, how the money should be used, and how to make sure it doesn’t become a point of confusion,” he noted.
Progress
Despite the limitations, the politician highlighted several community development achievements, particularly in support of small businesses and education.
From 2021 to 2025, his office facilitated several SME support programmes. In 2021, 13 small businesses were supported to the value of N$250 000.
The following year, another 13 SMEs received the same amount in assistance. In 2023, funds originally meant for a free Wi-Fi initiative were redirected to support income-generating projects due to a lack of physical space to operate from.
In 2024, 21 SME beneficiaries are expected to receive equipment valued at N$270 000. The procurement of this equipment faced technical delays, including sourcing items from South Africa, but the handover process is underway.
For 2025, the appraisal process is ongoing, with successful applicants expected to receive their assistance later this year.
“These are real businesses. You can go and touch them,” Angolo said proudly, confirming that the total amount allocated to SME projects during his tenure is N$1 million.
His office also invested in education and health infrastructure through minor capital community projects worth N$4.3 million. Four classrooms were constructed at Westmont School, completed within the current financial year, while Akasia High School received laboratory equipment worth N$200 000.
The Khomasdal Clinic was upgraded with three antenatal care (ANC) rooms to reduce overcrowding, although the equipment is still pending delivery. Meanwhile, at Otjomuise Clinic, a new pharmacy and storeroom are under construction, aimed at improving service delivery for a growing population. This project alone is valued at N$1.5 million.
Angolo’s team has likewise started supporting students from low-income backgrounds. Around seven to eight students registered with the Namibia College of Open Learning received assistance with registration fees, amounting to N$75 000.
Additional funding has been allocated to help students enrolled in higher education institutions. This is a new initiative introduced during the 2024/2025 financial year.
Promises
One of the councillor’s notable commitments during his campaign was the removal of makeshift structures – commonly referred to as ‘ghettos’ – in informal settlements. He confirmed that the government has now instructed that these structures be eliminated.
“We are mandated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah that dust must be seen, which means physical development must happen. By December, 5 000 shacks will be replaced across four constituencies, including Khomasdal,” he enthused.
Although the exact number of new housing units to be built in Khomasdal was not provided, he stated that the planned 5 000 units will be shared among the constituencies of Moses ǁGaroëb, Samora Machel, Tobias Hainyeko and Khomasdal.
Solution
Looking ahead, Angolo insisted that the implementation of the CDF is the only way to ensure consistent development.
He stressed that decision-making should not remain centralised in head offices far removed from local realities.
“We don’t want the CDF to be managed from head offices. Money is money. If it’s not managed well, everyone will want to get their hands on it,” he warned.
Election year
Interestingly, he acknowledged that the 2024/25 election year has created pressure to fast-track development.
“Normally, we used to give out SME equipment around November, but this year we are trying to speed it up. We don’t know if we’ll return, so we want people to have their equipment before elections,” he said.
When questioned why such urgency isn’t a standard practice every year, Angolo pointed out that budget cycles for election years differ, and funds cannot be carried forward.
“When you leave this office, you must leave it in order – at peace,” he added.
Reform
Although his term, like most of his peers, has been characterised by resources’ constraints, he is at peace with what he has been able to deliver. This was possible through partnerships, innovation and persistence.
Yet, the structural challenges he faced and that will still affect the next leadership if not resolved are a lack of direct funding, bureaucratic delays and limited land ownership, requiring urgent policy reforms.
“We have the vision. We just need the tools to make it real,” Angolo said.
Source: neweralive
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