Omaruru, Henties Bay, and Arandis councillors did not attend the Independence Day celebrations at Katima Mulilo in their official capacities after the Erongo Governor withheld their VIP tickets.

Erongo Governor Neville Andre says the councillors must first address community issues in their towns before attending celebrations.

The Independence Day organising committee gave 50 VIP tickets for each region to send their public office bearers to the national celebrations.

However, the Erongo Governor has excluded leaders from Omaruru, Henties Bay, and Arandis.

Residents of Okahandja's informal settlements are protesting against the municipality's alleged failure to respond to longstanding grievances.

Residents demand better service delivery, land delivery, and the provision of pre-paid water metres.

The Promised Land informal settlement residents claim that they have presented various petitions to the Okahandja municipality, but the appeals have been falling on deaf ears.

Otjiwarongo Municipality has promised to accelerate land delivery this year.

This is according to Mayor Gottlieb Shivute, speaking at the council's first meeting.

There are more than 5 000 people who applied for land at Otjiwarongo and Shivute says the Accelerated Land Delivery Programme was adopted in 2021.