/Khomanin reject Khomas demarcation submission

Rita Kakelo
The /Khomanin Traditional Authority has rejected a demarcation proposal submitted by Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua and other constituency councillors, stating that the community was not properly consulted on the matter.

The proposal suggested that part of the region’s Katutura Central constituency, which currently has 30 557 inhabitants, be waived to the John Pandeni constituency. It also requested the fifth Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission to consider amending certain constituency boundaries due to high population numbers.

The community proposed the integration of three key locations - the entire Damara Location, Gemeente and the police camp area - into the Katutura Central constituency, as these areas are geographically within its boundaries.

According to the community, the current division promotes discrimination and economic exclusion of its members.

McLeod-Katjirua emphasised that unequal constituency boundaries pose challenges in distributing resources, goods and services equitably. "The Khomas Regional Council's submission focuses on improving service delivery in sectors like land, education, health and water and sanitation," she said.

‘We’ve had enough’

Social activist Shaun Gariseb criticised the demarcation submission during a press conference in Windhoek. He contended that the councillors, whom he claimed do not reside in the affected constituencies, submitted proposals that do not align with the community's interests.

"We've had enough, and today we publicly reject these documents. We demand answers about who drafted them and which members from our constituency were involved in the process."

Gariseb assured that once they finalise their own proposal tailored to the needs and interests of their people, it will be directly submitted to the commission, emphasising that their proposal would not be affiliated with the councillors' or governor's offices.

The initial proposal for the region suggested that part of the Samora Machel constituency be waived to the John Pandeni constituency, with the remainder divided into two constituencies.

This change would bring the total of constituencies in Khomas to 11, with the new constituency set to be named after late army officer and politician Otto Nankudhu.

Furthermore, the boundaries of Windhoek East, Tobias Hainyeko, Moses Garoeb, Samora Machel, Khomasdal and Windhoek West constituencies, which share borders with the Windhoek Rural constituency, should be extended to the region's borders with other regions such as Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Erongo, the proposal read.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

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