Ohangwena Governor Walde Ndevashiya says effective governance, economic development, social progression, infrastructure development, and the strengthening of international relations are factors key to economic emancipation.
Ndevashiya made these remarks during his fourth State of the Region Address at Eenhana.
The governor says the region has made great improvements in service delivery in areas including health care provision, education, and rural electrification.
Ferrying water to schools is almost a thing of the past, with only two schools left to be connected and 31 out of 282 still needing to be electrified.
More schools have been built, with the number of schools rising from 276 last year to 282 this year.
"For the 2023/24 financial year, the directorate of education, arts, and culture has planned to construct 46 classrooms and nine ablution facilities at a cost of N$23.1 million at six schools."
In the health sector, the number of medical personnel is also said to have increased.
The government spent N$17 million on 101 veteran projects in the region and N$600,000 to bury 60 veterans.
The region recorded a high number of crimes, with 7578 cases.
These include theft, assault, housebreaking, GBV, rape, and murder.
"Therefore, in an effort to curb the high crime rate in the region, the construction of a new police station at Ongha and the police barracks at Eenhana have been completed. In addition, the construction of a police station with a charge office and cellblocks at Endola is underway. Furthermore, plans are underway to construct new police stations at Ondobe, Epembe, Omboloka, and Ohangwena."
The upgrading of road infrastructure has seen access roads across the region connect various schools and clinics with financial support from the kfW Development Bank.
The road network in the region comprises about 1333 kilometres, of which 387.8 km are bitumen roads, 286.9 km are gravel roads, 354.9 km are earth tracks, and 303.5 km are proclaimed roads.
To address the water crisis facing the eastern constituencies of the region, Namwater is implanting three bulk water supply projects.
These are the Ohangwena II Wellfield Project, Climate Resilient Water Supply Northern Namibia - which is kfW funded to the tune of N$10 million grant, and the Omundaungilo-Omutsegwonime bulk pipeline scheme.