Ju|'Hoansi Traditional Authority's senior Traditional Councillor has expressed concerns over the low number of Ju|'Hoansi-speaking learners completing school.

Fransina Ghauz said this during a meeting with Tsumkwe's Constituency Councillor Petrus Mutjie, aimed at identifying areas of collaboration and aligning the Councillor's agenda with the Traditional Authority's five-year vision.

Ghauz urged Mutjie to leverage his background as a teacher with the education ministry's aid to implement strategies that support learners.

In response, Mutjie said the education system in Tsumkwe has been performing poorly, and he is happy that there is now an education circuit office in Tsumkwe, which he says is a milestone toward achieving quality education in the constituency.

"Fortunately enough, I would also like to thank the Ministry of Education through the Directorate of Education; with our director, Mr Ndafenyongo, we got a circuit office in Tsumkwe constituency as well as AS level, so now I can stand proud and say our learners in Grade 11 can proceed to AS level in Tsumkwe instead of going out to towns and far areas."

The Traditional Authority also touched on the lack of progress and development in the constituency, calling on the Councillor to prioritise developmental projects and look at the issue of high unemployment amongst the youth.

Mutjie acknowledged these concerns but reminded the leadership of the constituency's vast geographic scale.

"We need to develop the area. How do we develop the area? We need the youth; we need the women to be part of and on board, you understand? So when you employ a youth, they go out, they go to work, and they come back; at least then you know a parent or community member can have something on the table because their kids are at least working."

Community elder Txi|co Debe welcomed the visit, saying that direct engagements with councillors in the constituency were a rare occurrence.

She expressed hope that the councillor's term would result in visible improvements for the community.

"I am very happy to see the councillor at the Traditional Authority's office. I hope that he will work with the Traditional Authority so we can see development. "All we want is development; our constituency is very behind."

The leadership also addressed the issue of the Tsumkwe tarred road, which they say is one of the reasons the constituency falls behind with development.

The gravel road stretches about 250 km from Grootfontein to Tsumkwe.