The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, urged local authorities to refrain from collecting debt from their clients via third-party enforcers and rather educate residents on their services and their responsibilities to ensure such services remain available.

He said this during the handover of houses in Nkurenkuru's Kakuro location in Kavango West Region.

Concerted efforts from both the public and private sectors, as well as the community, are needed to address the housing shortage in the mining town of Oranjemund. 

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, commissioned the groundbreaking for the construction of 85 housing units. 

The groundbreaking ceremony coincided with the handover of 50 houses to the members of the Shack Dwellers Federation. 

The Oranjemund Town Council has also serviced 327 plots at Extension 10, of which 220 are designated for residential. 

The National Housing Enterprise (NHE), in collaboration with the Gobabis Municipality, constructed 65 houses with the aim of ensuring that low-income earners in Gobabis have a roof over their heads.

Gobabis Mayor Melba Tjozongoro says the council is working tirelessly with various key stakeholders to bring much-needed development to town. 

About 70% to 80% of ministries have decentralised their functions to the regions since the adoption of the Decentralisation Policy in 1997.

This is according to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development officials, who have called on those lagging behind to improve.

To empower local and regional governments, the Decentralisation Policy was adopted in 1997 so that residents could make their own decisions.

By implementing the policy, communities can shape their own destiny and address challenges unique to them.

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has ordered the Outjo Municipality to re-advertise for the position of Chief Executive Officer.

This follows allegations of irregularities and an alleged flawed interview process last year.

The municipality has been without a CEO since April last year after Josel |Urib retired. 

|Urib's contract was extended but abruptly cancelled in August last year.

The !Aman Traditional Authority has announced that clan members will elect a new leader on April 20 at Bethanie Village. 

Johannes Swartz, !Aman Traditional Authority Chairperson, says the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, authorised the election to resolve a longstanding chieftaincy succession dispute. 

He explained that the minister decided on the election for a new leader after the !Aman Royal Family, within the set period of three months, had failed to resolve the succession issue. 

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has called on local authorities to lead local economic development by creating an enabling, conducive environment for both investors and job seekers.

He made the call during the official opening of the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) Indaba held at Luderitz. 

The Indaba aims to unlock investment, partnership, networking, and business opportunities for local authorities. 

In a move aimed at bolstering regional and local development efforts, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, presented the Regional and Constituency Development Fund Bill to the National Assembly. 

The bill seeks to establish a dedicated fund to financially support development projects in both regional and local authority areas.

The proposed legislation is a response to the challenges faced by regional councils in fulfilling their mandates due to limited financial resources. 

The Rundu Town Council is finally taking action to improve the status of the Tumweneni informal settlement.

The action comes after a directive from the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, in August 2022 to formalise Tumweneni.

Tumweneni came into existence in 2018 through illegal land grabbing.

Upon his visit to the informal settlement, Minister Uutoni advised the town council to see to it that service is brought closer to the informal settlements. 

Since its establishment, the population of Tumweneni has increased.

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has applauded the |Gaio-Daman Traditional Authority for the construction of a community hall and traditional authority offices that will bring development and serve the residents of Anker settlement in the Kamanjab Constituency.

Uutoni shared these praises at the inauguration of the two buildings.