The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, has called on health centres not to allow challenges that require immediate solutions to persist, saying some minor issues do not need to go through the bureaucratic system for approval to be corrected.

Dr. Shangula made these remarks at Omatako Clinic, where he concluded his visits to health facilities in the Otjozondjupa Region.

The team, including the regional health management, visited the health facilities in Okakarara, Grootfontein, Etunda, Otavi, and Kombat.

A multi-million dollar Etunda Farm Clinic located south of Otavi continues to shine. 
 
The clinic, which was built through the Etunda Farm Trust of the Sam Nujoma Foundation was handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Services in 2017 and serves the farm population as well as anyone finding themselves in the vicinity. 

The clinic is located along B1 road.

The Otjozondjupa Health Director, Gerbardo Timotheus, says the clinic is excelling and is one of the most fully stocked clinics in the region.

Otavi residents will heave a sigh of relief as roads, will be upgraded this year to address the pothole issue within the town centre and informal areas.

Otavi Mayor, Isaac !Hoaeb revealed that over N$700 000 has been set aside to refurbish the roads.

!Hoaeb says the upgrading of the roads will be done in many key areas as little or no upgrade has taken place for years now, adding improved road networks will attract investors to the town. 

Most office-bearers in the Otjiwarongo Municipality and Otavi Town Council retained their positions.

Kandiwapa Shivute and Isaac !Hoaeb retained their positions as mayors of Otjiwarongo and Otavi, respectively.

Otjiwarongo council, with seven seats, is led by Swapo councillors, followed by opposition parties with one seat each.
 
Shivute is to be deputized by Julienda Kampungu. While Gothard Hoko was elected Chairperson of the Management Committee.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, says a request to write off debts of N$56 million by two town councils could cripple NamWater.

The request was made by the Okakarara and Otavi town councils for debt incurred due to poor revenue collection from rates and taxes.

Schlettwein said it's not a feasible decision to write off debt as it would financially cripple the water utility.

Namwater is owed N$637 million in debt. Of this, Okakarara and Otavi owe more than N$14 million and N$41 million, respectively.