WINDHOEK, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- One of the most important remedies to the problems and challenges facing Namibia's local authorities is the development of a vibrant economy where both the local business and the people can thrive, Prime Minister Saara Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said Friday.
Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said this when she officially opened a tourism and trade expo at Outjo town in Kunene region north west of Namibia.
The town of Outjo, which boasts a population of more than 8,500 people, is about 559 kilometers from Windhoek.
Outjo is best known as a cattle farming centre and the gateway to Etosha National Park and other tourist attractions, lodges and natural sites and of course the diversity of our culture.
According to Kuungogelwa-Amadhila, there is also a symbiotic relationship between economic development and the ability to offer quality services to the people.
"Economic development with its potential to create employment opportunity is the engine of growth for our towns as it is for the national economy," Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said.
The Prime Minister further said Namibia has, over the years, experienced significant migration from rural to urban areas.
In this regard, she said, there is need to address the trend of high rural to urban migration.
"The problems associated with urbanisation are inadequate infrastructure, such as water, electricity and sewage facilities as well as the lack of affordable housing," she said.
Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said one way of addressing rural-urban migration is through broad-based action to promote the growth of the rural economy and reverse the high migration to towns.
The other, according to Kuungogelwa-Amadhila, is to support the previously disadvantaged to enter the mainstream economy to promote equity.
"Decentralisation is not a mere transfer of functions and resources from the centre to sub-national levels, but it is also an issue of strengthening democracy and effective governance through improved public participation and service delivery," she said.
She added that effective decentralisation does not only require more power, but it also needs the capacity building of local and regional administration systems as well as adherence to good governance standards.
"Government will thus work with local and regional governments to ensure that the important issues receive due attention at all our sub national government levels to realize the full benefits of decentralization," she said.
Since the local administration in Namibia faces numerous challenges, Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said the communities are concerned about access to services and economic opportunities.
She said local governments could, however, make an impact provided that they are strategic in the administration of their functions and find innovative ways to mobilise resources to meet basic needs of their residents.
"They can make a greater impact on economic development by fostering strategic partnerships with cooperation among people to achieve sustainable economic growth and development thereby bringing economic benefits and improved quality of life for all residents," she said.
