The Minister of Urban and Rural Development (MURD), Erastus Uutoni, has called for an impactful and sustainable rural development transformation. 

He made the call during the official opening of the Rural Development Annual Progress Review and Planning Workshop attended by Regional Council representatives at Keetmanshoop. 

Facilitated by MURD, the five-day workshop aims to reflect on and assess progress on rural development initiatives spearheaded by regional councils. 

"The decisions and commitments made during the workshop should reverberate beyond our gathering and profoundly impact our people's livelihoods. Let us seize the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, leverage innovative approaches, and advance the shared vision of sustainable rural transformation that will propel rural areas towards a future of prosperity and sustainable development."

Minister Uutoni furthermore called on regional councils to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurship to create jobs and opportunities for meaningful development in rural areas. 

"As you know, rural development is multifaceted and consists of various role players. As such, there is a need for effective coordination and collaboration. We must avoid working in silos and should pull in the same direction where we plan and execute activities in an integrated manner. Resources are hard to come by nowadays, and we must prioritise and optimally use the limited resources at our disposal and do more with less."

||Kharas Governor Aletha Frederick stressed rural infrastructure development is essential for tackling challenges related to water supply, sanitation, and electricity. 

She added rural empowerment is also crucial to strengthening the rural economy. 

"Moreover, these efforts play a critical role in mitigating rural-urban migration. By creating sustainable livelihoods in rural areas, we can encourage individuals to remain within their communities rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. This will help preserve our cultural heritage while also contributing to balanced national growth."

Also speaking at the occasion was the Mayor of Keetmanshoop, McDonald Hanse. 

The workshop ends on Friday.

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Photo Credits
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development

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Luqman Cloete