The Councillor for the Okakarara Constituency, Ramana Mutjavikua, says there has been notable development in the constituency in the areas of housing, health, education, and youth programmes.

Recently, the Swapo Party Coordinator for the Otjozondjupa Region, Imms Namaseb, said development at Okakarara has been a shortcoming over the years.

"Okakarara has been under the leadership of the opposition, and no noticeable development has been observed over the years in Okakarara Constituency. As we are talking now, there are serious financial and administrative issues due to bad governance in the Okakarara town council."

Okakarara Constituency Councillor Ramana Mutjavikua, however, disagrees, saying there have been notable developments in some areas, including health.

"We had an appointment for 20 additional nurses and two additional medical doctors just to fill our capacity and set up."

In the education sector, Mutjavikua said stakeholders plan to separate junior and secondary learners to make teaching easier.

Currently, there are three schools that have been combined.

Plots have since been allocated for the junior level of the affected schools through the settlement development committee.

The Directorate of Education has already agreed on the separation of the schools, and local and international investors are ready to sponsor the construction of the schools.

"So far, we have three potential donors that are on board. The idea is to ensure that come the opening of next year, we will at all costs be able to separate Okondjatu Combined School, Okamatapati Combined School, and Coblenz Combined School to have one junior and one lower grade, and in the process, we want to curb all the social issues that are coming with it."

For the last two and a half years, Mutjavikua says they have been in the planning process to bring about youth development programmes in Okakarara, and there is progress in the establishment of an Agricultural college on land adjacent to the constituency office.

The Namibia Training Authority has provided funds to this effect, says Mutjavikua.

As part of the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre, the hospitality department is in its final stage with the painting of the building. The college is envisaged to open next year with an intake capacity of 300 to 400 trainees.

On housing, Okakarara has 547 plots at a new extension to curb land grabbing.

Plots are available with minimal requirements as the town is focusing on low-income earners.

The partnership with Development Workshop will ensure that basic services are brought to those erven. 

Through other development partners in the housing sector, such as Build Together, the town council handed over close to 50 houses in the last six months.

NHE has also constructed houses for upper-income residents, and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development handed over 46 houses, while about 60 other houses for the high-income earners at Pamwe and Elis Park are fully serviced.

The sewerage capacity system, however, needs to be attended to.

Efforts are also being made to improve road networks.

Okakarara was established about 50 years ago.