The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has engaged stakeholders in the ||Kharas Region to assess government performance to enhance good governance and foster sustainable development.

Civil servants, representatives from corporate business and civil organisations, and traditional leaders attended the regional consultative engagement at Keetmanshoop.

APRM is an African self-assessment mechanism that reviews good performance and encourages the implementation of policies and practices of good political, economic, and corporate governance in Africa.

Swapo Party Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on party members and supporters to protect the country's hard-won independence as the country heads for next year's national elections.

She made the call while addressing the party's rally at Keetmanshoop.

The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, reiterated the significance of engaging with ||Kharas regional leadership during a meeting held in Keetmanshoop.

He emphasised the importance of consulting with stakeholders to effectively address and incorporate their budgetary needs.

The consultations with regional councillors and local authorities in the region are aimed at understanding the current pressing financial needs and planning for next year's budget.

In accordance with the resolutions of the Swapo Party Congress in 2022, the women's wing of the party organised its inaugural activity workshop for the leadership of ||Kharas and Hardap regions at Keetmanshoop.

The objective of the workshop is to offer guidance on the implementation of the congress resolutions through a five-year plan.

In her address to the regional leadership at the workshop's opening, Maria Namupala, a Research and Advisory Cadre member, emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the congress resolutions.

The birth of twin girls in January of this year has brought immense joy to a couple from Keetmanshoop.

However, what they initially believed to be a double bundle of joy has quickly turned into a nightmare.

Johannes Coetzee, the 62-year-old father of the twin girls, spoke to nbc News and shared that they are facing financial struggles in providing for the baby formula and diapers for their six-month-old girls.

He mentioned that it costs him around N$200 per week to feed his twins.

Unemployed youth in Keetmanshoop have raised their concerns and demanded a halt to the interviews of shortlisted police cadets in the ||Kharas Region.

They claimed that the recruitment shortlisting process is discriminatory and disadvantages the young people of the region.

The youth organised a march to the Police Regional Headquarters in Keetmanshoop, where they handed over a petition expressing their condemnation of the shortlisting process, alleging that it was discriminatory towards the native southerners of the region.

Residents of the ||Kharas Region have thrown their support behind the motion on the writing-off of water and electricity debts that local authorities owe bulk suppliers, NamWater and NamPower.

They shared their sentiments at the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Resources and Community Development public hearing at Keetmanshoop.
 
Defaulters owe NamWater N$1.7 billion, while the debt owed to NamPower stands at N$1.5 billion.

Figures revealed that local authorities are the biggest defaulters.