Ohangwena leaders defend hosting council workshop in Windhoek
The Ohangwena Regional Council has come under scrutiny for its decision to host a strategic planning and validation workshop for several officials in Windhoek, incurring significant travel and accommodation expenses.
Chief regional officer Fillipus Shilongo defended the decision to convene the meeting some 740 km away from Eenhana, citing the region’s inadequate facilities. Among the attendees was Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga.
In addition to what he described as “challenging facilities", Shilongo explained this week that the workshop was scheduled to coincide with Namibia’s Independence Day celebrations in Windhoek last Friday, maximising the officials' time in the city.
The news of the council trip comes in the wake of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s recent call for fiscal prudence and the elimination of government wastage.
“As a regional council, we decided that since 21 March would be celebrated in Windhoek, we would remain in the capital and convene our regional councillors and core management team for this important meeting,” Shilongo said.
Concerns dismissed
Justifying the decision, he argued that attending the presidential inauguration and subsequently hosting the workshop in Windhoek was both practical and cost-effective.
“We are actually cutting costs because we are only claiming accommodation for the additional days. Travel expenses were already covered for the Independence Day celebrations,” he explained.
Shilongo dismissed concerns about the meeting’s geographic setting, arguing that the workshop’s outcomes were more important than where it was held. He also highlighted the advantage of being near key government offices.
“The location doesn’t matter, but the quality of input does. The Office of the Prime Minister is also in close proximity, especially the colleagues responsible for strategic formulations, who are an invaluable resource,” he said.
Lack of facilities to blame
Shilongo acknowledged the region’s financial constraints, expressing hope that facilities in Ohangwena would be improved to accommodate such meetings in the future.
“We face infrastructural challenges. For such meetings and events, we often resort to Oshikango. We sought a conducive working environment – it is not a case of disowning our own region,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, governor Ndeitunga distanced himself from the decision, pointing out that the regional council did not require his authorisation to proceed.
“They don’t need my permission for such matters. I would, therefore, advise you to direct those questions to them,” Ndeitunga said.
According to NBC, the workshop aims to draft a five-year strategic plan focusing on informed decision-making, resource allocation and priority-setting to enhance the regional council’s efficiency in achieving its objectives.
Chief regional officer Fillipus Shilongo defended the decision to convene the meeting some 740 km away from Eenhana, citing the region’s inadequate facilities. Among the attendees was Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga.
In addition to what he described as “challenging facilities", Shilongo explained this week that the workshop was scheduled to coincide with Namibia’s Independence Day celebrations in Windhoek last Friday, maximising the officials' time in the city.
The news of the council trip comes in the wake of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s recent call for fiscal prudence and the elimination of government wastage.
“As a regional council, we decided that since 21 March would be celebrated in Windhoek, we would remain in the capital and convene our regional councillors and core management team for this important meeting,” Shilongo said.
Concerns dismissed
Justifying the decision, he argued that attending the presidential inauguration and subsequently hosting the workshop in Windhoek was both practical and cost-effective.
“We are actually cutting costs because we are only claiming accommodation for the additional days. Travel expenses were already covered for the Independence Day celebrations,” he explained.
Shilongo dismissed concerns about the meeting’s geographic setting, arguing that the workshop’s outcomes were more important than where it was held. He also highlighted the advantage of being near key government offices.
“The location doesn’t matter, but the quality of input does. The Office of the Prime Minister is also in close proximity, especially the colleagues responsible for strategic formulations, who are an invaluable resource,” he said.
Lack of facilities to blame
Shilongo acknowledged the region’s financial constraints, expressing hope that facilities in Ohangwena would be improved to accommodate such meetings in the future.
“We face infrastructural challenges. For such meetings and events, we often resort to Oshikango. We sought a conducive working environment – it is not a case of disowning our own region,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, governor Ndeitunga distanced himself from the decision, pointing out that the regional council did not require his authorisation to proceed.
“They don’t need my permission for such matters. I would, therefore, advise you to direct those questions to them,” Ndeitunga said.
According to NBC, the workshop aims to draft a five-year strategic plan focusing on informed decision-making, resource allocation and priority-setting to enhance the regional council’s efficiency in achieving its objectives.
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