Government and key stakeholders must do more to improve service delivery, particularly in education and community development, in the Epukiro Constituency.

National Planning Commission (NPC) Director-General Kaire Mbuende reveals this to the NBC news team after visiting a few key projects in Epukiro of the Omaheke region.

The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Kaire Mbuende, said delays on payments and other logistical matters have delayed construction on the office of the Ovambanderu traditional authority.

Dr Mbuende added that his office will take it up with the line ministry to ensure that the project is completed without further delays.

"According to our information, this is supposed to have been completed already; sometimes back it is now estimated to be something between 70/80% completed, and as we stand now there are no activities at all, and we have had many cases where projects are abandoned either because the contractors have too many sites at the same time or there have been delays in the payment, but again, the state of construction is completely unsatisfactory."

Ombara Eben Tjozohongo || Nguvauva of the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority emphasised that delays in completing the office hinder proposed development and deprive local people of much-needed services that should be rendered through their office.

"I'm pleading with our leaders to please avail some of their time to go and investigate this issue of our office and to revert back to us as soon as possible because our people here are still waiting for their payment, and this delays the progress of the construction work, as this office should have been completed by now, so let's push that this office can be completed."

Moreover, Dr. Mbuende says that the community garden at Okovimburu village needs support from the local communities to ensure that it becomes sustainable and supports local schools.

On education the DG says that Good Hope Primary School at Okovimburu, being one of the oldest schools in the constituency, also needs some serious attention, more especially on the hostel facilities that are dilapidated.

"It's in a bad state; I think we will take it upon ourselves. See what can be done. The condition there is completely unacceptable; children are sleeping on the floor, and that is not a conducive learning environment. Apart from that, the community are also diversifying their agricultural activities by looking at crop production, and we have seen the pilot project of the Ovambanderu traditional authority."

The Director General of the NPC was accompanied by regional and traditional authority leaders.