Ndeitunga identifies priorities for Ohangwena
New Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga says he has no magic wand to turn the region’s fortunes around without the community’s involvement, adding that the lack of water in many parts of the region is among his top priority challenges.
President Hage Geingob shockingly sacked Walde Ndevashiya as regional governor on Wednesday, and appointed Ndeitunga - who retired in 2022 as national police chief - in his place.
Ndeitunga said he was honoured to have been picked for the job among other qualified Namibians, adding that he will serve with humility.
Although he resides in Oshikoto, he said he is familiar with Ohangwena, having ‘patrolled’ the region between 1989 and 1990 as a Swapo mobiliser ahead of the 1989 election - which practically marked the end of apartheid when the liberation movement won.
“We worked under the guidance of the late Hadino Hishongwa and we used bicycles to reach different places where we preached to the people their democratic right to vote. Of course, we told them to vote for Swapo.
“The bicycles broke down a lot and we had no spare parts, so we were left with no choice but to walk most of the time. That’s how I got to know the region properly,” he told Namibian Sun late on Wednesday.
Good foundation
“I implore the communities to work with me and other agencies of the state to tackle the existing challenges. Crime, for example, is very high in Ohangwena and I would like to tackle that head-on.”
Ndeitunga also listed health and education as other priorities on his radar. He effectively started his new job yesterday, after a sabbatical from government work for more than a year.
He was replaced as police chief by Joseph Shikongo.
“There’s a good foundation laid by former governors of the region, including my immediate predecessor Walde Ndevashiya. It won’t be easy, but I’m not starting from scratch.
"But I can’t do it alone. The people of Ohangwena must bring their part.”
Originally born in Angola, Ndeitunga joined Swapo’s liberation struggle as a young man and assumed his Namibian citizenship afterwards. He was chief of police between 2005 and 2022, making him one of the longest serving people in that position.
President Hage Geingob shockingly sacked Walde Ndevashiya as regional governor on Wednesday, and appointed Ndeitunga - who retired in 2022 as national police chief - in his place.
Ndeitunga said he was honoured to have been picked for the job among other qualified Namibians, adding that he will serve with humility.
Although he resides in Oshikoto, he said he is familiar with Ohangwena, having ‘patrolled’ the region between 1989 and 1990 as a Swapo mobiliser ahead of the 1989 election - which practically marked the end of apartheid when the liberation movement won.
“We worked under the guidance of the late Hadino Hishongwa and we used bicycles to reach different places where we preached to the people their democratic right to vote. Of course, we told them to vote for Swapo.
“The bicycles broke down a lot and we had no spare parts, so we were left with no choice but to walk most of the time. That’s how I got to know the region properly,” he told Namibian Sun late on Wednesday.
Good foundation
“I implore the communities to work with me and other agencies of the state to tackle the existing challenges. Crime, for example, is very high in Ohangwena and I would like to tackle that head-on.”
Ndeitunga also listed health and education as other priorities on his radar. He effectively started his new job yesterday, after a sabbatical from government work for more than a year.
He was replaced as police chief by Joseph Shikongo.
“There’s a good foundation laid by former governors of the region, including my immediate predecessor Walde Ndevashiya. It won’t be easy, but I’m not starting from scratch.
"But I can’t do it alone. The people of Ohangwena must bring their part.”
Originally born in Angola, Ndeitunga joined Swapo’s liberation struggle as a young man and assumed his Namibian citizenship afterwards. He was chief of police between 2005 and 2022, making him one of the longest serving people in that position.
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