Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says traditional authorities are key in instilling cultural values, traditions, and norms as well as supporting government programmes aimed at ensuring that people are living in unity, peace, and harmony.

Kuugongelwa Amadhila made these remarks when she paid a courtesy call to Ongandjera, Uukwaludhi, and Ombalantu traditional authorities.

She says traditional authorities play an important role in communities and, being custodians of cultures, they help the government to maintain law and order in the communities.

"This is not the first time I've visited them. I do visit them when I come into their areas to implement various government programs or to appraise myself of the situation in terms of its status of implementation and to get input and feedback from the community members on how the programs that we are implementing are impacting on them."

She says traditional authorities do not only have a huge responsibility to play in terms of service delivery and development in rural areas but they also advise the government as stipulated in the Traditional Authority's Act.

"You know, in terms of the Constitution and Traditional Authority Act, there is a Council of Traditional Leaders that has the responsibility to advise the government, and the PM is the head of government administration. I cannot be out of touch with them whenever there is an opportunity to visit them, and this is what I am doing."

It was then time to exchange gifts between the Prime Minister, the King of Ongandjera, and his wife.