The Erongo Regional Council (ERC) hosted a symbolic handover of Constituency Development Fund materials valued at N$784,000.

The handover took place at the Erongo Regional Office in Swakopmund.

Chief Regional Officer Mpenzeni Ntelamo said during the event that the development fund materials are earmarked to assist constituencies in addressing poverty.

"We are grateful that you have visited our office as we hand over constituency development fund materials earmarked specifically for the needy, not only in the rural constituencies but in all the seven constituencies that constitute the Erongo Regional Council."

He noted that after experiencing a backlog of four years, the Council has instituted a system to make the procurement process easier.

"So, one thing that I must mention is that we’ve had a backlog over the years; that’s why we have this high amount. What we have done is institute a procurement process that mainly relates to how we buy things through a pool. Instead of buying for one constituency, we are now buying for all the constituencies at once, in one go."

Ntelamo added that the development fund is an initiative of the council in the absence of a national Constituency Development Fund protocol.

The equipment handed over includes building materials, early childhood development materials, generators, power tools, and office equipment, among others.