The community of !Hoachanas in the Hardap Region has expressed their dissatisfaction with the settlement office over what they termed a dysfunctional office and slow development.

To gain insight, the MICT Hardap team spoke with the Regional Councillor of Mariental Rural Constituency and the community.

The !Hoachanas residents say there are no new developments and the only business park and market in the resettlement are closed.

"We have the council office, the police station, and traditional authority. We also have a clinic, but we do not have enough staff. I would also like to request that the business community open shops and a post office to enable us to deposit our money and to cater for pensioners," said one resident.

Another resident added that "As young people in Hoachanas, we need help, because we are unemployed. We need assistance with a vocational center to learn how to make things by hand, such as sewing, and any other training."

Another person expressed concern about the settlement's safety. "There are many bushes, and it is most dangerous for the ladies and children. The settlement requires debushing and the installation of two mega spread lights."

Dencia Swartbooi, Regional Councillor for the Mariental Rural Constituency, explained that the settlement office, which is in charge of development, had been without a substantive Control Administrative Officer for six years.

This slowed down the delivery of basic services.

However, with the filling of this position last year in December, the provision of services and the implementation of projects are expected to yield positive results.

"The Hardap Regional Council is responsible for the affairs of the Hoachanas settlement. What I found out recently is that the !Hoachanas settlement is not fully proclaimed as a settlement, and that is one of the things that hinders development in !Hoachanas."

The successful implementation of development in the region will depend on the availability of funds and investors.

One such venture is the newly established !Hoachanas Renewable Energy Trust solar project, which is anticipated to sell electricity to Nampower. 

The profit is to be shared with community upliftment projects such as the Hoachanas Children's Fund.

Another initiative is the German cooperation funding through the Common Waters project, which successfully installed solar water pumps at three resettlement farms in the constituency.

Swartbooi added that the construction of a magistrate court and the installation of prepaid meters are earmarked for the settlement.

He also emphasized the need for effective communication with administrators in the region.

"Many times, administrators are keeping the information for themselves, and that is why the information does not reach the people on time. So, if the coming communication comes from the line ministry as well, it should be communicated directly with the councilors. At the end of the day, the constituencies are asking, "Councilor, are you aware of this?" or "Do you know this?" And then we don't know what answers to give them."