Infighting must not block Erongo's progress, Donatus says
Six months, big plans
Newly elected chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council Florian Donatus is determined to make every day count and leave a lasting impact, despite his brief tenure.
Newly elected chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council Florian Donatus blames factionalism for crippling service delivery in the region.
Speaking at his maiden press conference last week, Donatus, who also serves as the Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor, vowed to confront political divisions and stalled development head-on during his brief six-month tenure, ahead of this year’s regional and local elections.
"The community out there, they are not interested in what political party you are coming from. They don’t even know who the chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council is," he said.
"What they care about is that their needs are met. And that’s the reason I’m assuming this role – not to reinvent the wheel, but to fast-track service delivery and ensure that this much-talked-about development reaches our people efficiently,” he said.
"We need to bring all offices involved together and move forward without looking at which political party anyone comes from. Because if I, as chairperson, block development in a constituency based on who is in charge there politically, then it’s not the party that suffers—it’s the people of Erongo," he added.
Donatus’ election on 15 April followed the ousting of former chairperson Benitha Imbamba, who was removed through a motion of no confidence.
Top of the list
Donatus outlined a wide-ranging plan focused on inclusive economic growth, accountability and transparency. While acknowledging the brevity of his mandate – only until November – he insisted time will not be an obstacle.
“There is so much that can be done in six months,” he said, adding that his immediate priorities include expediting existing projects, reviving stalled infrastructure initiatives and ensuring implementation of budgeted activities.
He singled out the planned SME Park in Walvis Bay, the operationalisation of water infrastructure in Omaruru and pipeline works in Omatjete and Otjimbingwe as top agenda items.
One of his most urgent appeals was for funding to finally construct a dedicated regional headquarters.
"We are the only region still without a proper office park. We cannot keep operating from the corridors of Swakopmund. The time has come for the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and Treasury to prioritise us," he said.
Donatus also took aim at the regional beneficiation of mineral resources, lamenting a lack of communication between mining companies and local authorities.
"There’s a gap between the mines and the regional council. Some companies are operating in our constituencies, yet they do not engage with us. How can we ensure our communities benefit when we don’t even know what’s going on in our own backyard?" he asked.
He also committed to pushing for better oversight and partnerships with all stakeholders, including traditional authorities.
"People in affected areas need to see benefits from the mining activities, starting with employment. We must end the importation of labour for general jobs when local residents remain unemployed," he stressed.
Regional education boost
Donatus also called for greater investment in education.
"We cannot continue to send our children to the streets while we should be enrolling them in universities and training institutions. A regional education turnaround strategy must be implemented immediately," he said, noting plans to increase the council's oversight of the directorate of education.
Moreover, he underlined that a chairperson’s role “is not a vehicle to jump from one meeting to the next”. Instead, he said, it “must address the real needs of people. We are in Erongo, and we must work for Erongo.”
Speaking at his maiden press conference last week, Donatus, who also serves as the Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor, vowed to confront political divisions and stalled development head-on during his brief six-month tenure, ahead of this year’s regional and local elections.
"The community out there, they are not interested in what political party you are coming from. They don’t even know who the chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council is," he said.
"What they care about is that their needs are met. And that’s the reason I’m assuming this role – not to reinvent the wheel, but to fast-track service delivery and ensure that this much-talked-about development reaches our people efficiently,” he said.
"We need to bring all offices involved together and move forward without looking at which political party anyone comes from. Because if I, as chairperson, block development in a constituency based on who is in charge there politically, then it’s not the party that suffers—it’s the people of Erongo," he added.
Donatus’ election on 15 April followed the ousting of former chairperson Benitha Imbamba, who was removed through a motion of no confidence.
Top of the list
Donatus outlined a wide-ranging plan focused on inclusive economic growth, accountability and transparency. While acknowledging the brevity of his mandate – only until November – he insisted time will not be an obstacle.
“There is so much that can be done in six months,” he said, adding that his immediate priorities include expediting existing projects, reviving stalled infrastructure initiatives and ensuring implementation of budgeted activities.
He singled out the planned SME Park in Walvis Bay, the operationalisation of water infrastructure in Omaruru and pipeline works in Omatjete and Otjimbingwe as top agenda items.
One of his most urgent appeals was for funding to finally construct a dedicated regional headquarters.
"We are the only region still without a proper office park. We cannot keep operating from the corridors of Swakopmund. The time has come for the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and Treasury to prioritise us," he said.
Donatus also took aim at the regional beneficiation of mineral resources, lamenting a lack of communication between mining companies and local authorities.
"There’s a gap between the mines and the regional council. Some companies are operating in our constituencies, yet they do not engage with us. How can we ensure our communities benefit when we don’t even know what’s going on in our own backyard?" he asked.
He also committed to pushing for better oversight and partnerships with all stakeholders, including traditional authorities.
"People in affected areas need to see benefits from the mining activities, starting with employment. We must end the importation of labour for general jobs when local residents remain unemployed," he stressed.
Regional education boost
Donatus also called for greater investment in education.
"We cannot continue to send our children to the streets while we should be enrolling them in universities and training institutions. A regional education turnaround strategy must be implemented immediately," he said, noting plans to increase the council's oversight of the directorate of education.
Moreover, he underlined that a chairperson’s role “is not a vehicle to jump from one meeting to the next”. Instead, he said, it “must address the real needs of people. We are in Erongo, and we must work for Erongo.”
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