Services have been fully restored at Mangetti Dune Health Centre in Tsumkwe Constituency following renovations.

The 24-hour centre also now has a doctor, a pharmacist, and a social worker. 

A budget of N$1 million was set aside to renovate the centre and bring all services to standard.

Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director, Gerbardo Timotheus, says the clinic was a military clinic before independence.

Obed Chabani (48), who is facing charges of possession and dealing in cannabis worth over N$300,000, has been remanded in custody following his appearance in the Outjo Magistrates' Court.

Chabani was nabbed on April 30, according to Kunene Crime Investigations Coordinator Deputy Commissioner Paavo Iyambo, while loading two big boxes in a vehicle.

Each box, Iyambo says, had 36 grammes of cannabis.

Chabani's arrest is one of many other successes the region has recorded through various operations.

A member of the OvaHerero Repatriation Day Committee, Johnathan Katjimune, says there is a need for the government to hastily inject into the development of Gam Settlement to meet the needs of the growing population.

Speaking to nbc News on the sidelines of OvaHerero Repatriation Day, Katjimune says with the imminent return of about 1,000 Namibian descendants from Botswana, the demand for services will outweigh the supply.

Katjimune says Gam is still challenged by a lack of grazing or farming land, housing, and education facilities that need intervention.

Tsumkwe Constituency Councillor Johannes Haufiku has called on the Office of the Prime Minister to combine the drought relief food aid and feeding programmes for marginalised communities in his area.

In an interview with nbc News, Haufiku says food parcels do not reach all intended beneficiaries, despite many households and individuals needing food aid.

According to Haufiku, households listed for the marginalised feeding programme receive food parcels quarterly but do not qualify for drought relief aid, which is distributed monthly through the constituency office. 

The Okakarara Town Council says it is making efforts to improve road infrastructure, sewerage, and water reticulation, as well as satisfy the demand for housing in the town.

Okakarara is situated a few kilometres east of the Waterberg Mountain in the Otjozondjupa Region and is home to just over 7,000 inhabitants. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the town, Ehrnst Katjiku, told nbc News that the council is operating on a shoestring budget. 

The council received N$1.3 million for road infrastructure maintenance for this financial year.

High rates of tuberculosis infection continue to be a huge concern in Tsumkwe Constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director Gerbardo Timotheus shared his concern during a meeting with Otjozondjupa Governor James Uarikua.
 
The health director with the United Nations Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is on a week-long visit in the region to assess programmes supported by CDC Namibia.

The Kunene Vocational Training Centre is expected to open for its first intake in June.

This was announced by the Namibia Training Authority's TVET Standards Manager, Amon Haufiku, during a consultative meeting with the community at Khorixas.

Although construction at the centre is not yet fully completed, Haufiku said about 100 trainees and staff members are expected to occupy different workshops and classrooms in June.

Construction of the centre started in 2018, but it was delayed by the challenges brought by the outbreak of COVID-19.

B2Gold has committed N$19 million towards the completion of Ombili Primary School at Ombili Informal Settlement in Otjiwarongo to meet the government halfway in ensuring access to education.

B2GOLD Country Manager John Roos says N$3 million has already been spent since 2021 for 24 classrooms and two blocks for grade 1 and 2 learners.

Roos says the mining company decided to construct eight additional classrooms to address overcrowding in classes.

The company will also construct a library and a science lab, while the sports field will be completed in 2025.

In an effort to bring health services closer to the people, an N$6 million clinic will be constructed in Otjiwarongo's Ombili informal settlement.

The funds have been secured from B2 Gold Namibia to upgrade the health centre in which they are currently operating into a fully-fledged clinic.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the centre upgrade, Health and Social Services Ministry Executive Director Ben Nangombe said the initiative will relieve pressure on the Otjiwarongo Hospital as well as Orwetoveni Clinic.

Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, James Uerikua, has reiterated a call for a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo because of the many accidents happening on the B1 road.

Uerikua was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ombili Clinic at Otjiwarongo.

Otjiwarongo has a population of 220,000 inhabitants, of which 62,000 depend on health services from the Otjiwarongo State Hospital.