A delegation from the Office of the Vice President, led by Deputy Minister Moses ||Khumub as well as Tsumkwe Constituency Councillor Petrus Mutji, met with traditional leaders and stakeholders to engage on matters affecting the community.
Deputy Minister ||Khumub said he was delegated by the Vice President to engage with communities that he worked with, assess activities being carried out, and listen to concerns from traditional leadership and community members.
“My visit is also to reaffirm the government’s commitment, together with all Traditional Authorities. This commitment is not exclusive to the !Kung Traditional Authority. We are here to affirm that, as a government, we stand with you and your community at this present moment and in the future as well. Any shortcomings that may have been experienced in the past, as well as the new aspirations we have for other interventions and projects, are firmly open to proposals from the traditional leadership, whether through the Division of Marginalised Communities or directly to the Presidency.”
||Khumub further stressed the importance of unity among marginalised communities, saying it will advance development.
The Chief of the !Kung Traditional Authority, Ilony Arnold, welcomed the delegation, saying the engagement shows the government's commitment to working with traditional authorities and advancing development through unity.
Senior Councillor of the !Kung Traditional Authority, Auho Kavetene, highlighted water and transport as some of the major challenges facing communities in Tsumkwe West.
“We have a health facility that attends to the healthcare needs of the community, but there is still a challenge when it comes to transportation. The health facility does not have a dedicated ambulance, which is also a challenge in the area. We have long, poor gravel roads that cause damage to our vehicles, even after just one trip to Grootfontein.”
||Khumub said he will take up the issues raised during the engagement with the relevant offices.
He also advised the constituency councillor and traditional leaders about procedures to follow when seeking government intervention.
The delegation will proceed to engage with the Ju|'oansi Traditional Authority in Tsumkwe East and the organising committee of the first San-led National Cultural and Development festival.