Renthia Kaimbi
Erongo governor Natalia |Goagoses has urged regional councillors in Erongo to place the improvement of basic services at the centre of their work.
Goagoses made the call on Wednesday during the opening of the Internal Induction Workshop for regional councillors, hosted by the Erongo Regional Council at the Seaside Hotel in Swakopmund.
The workshop brought together newly elected councillors and senior officials to align political leadership with the council’s administrative work.
She said regional councillors carry heavy responsibility as the level of government closest to communities.
“Regional councils are not abstract institutions. When communities experience progress, stability, and inclusion, it is often because regional leadership has functioned effectively. When challenges persist, the same communities look first to this level of government for answers,” Goagoses said.
She stressed that leadership should be judged by results and said councillors must ensure residents feel heard and see real improvements in their daily lives.
She pointed to water security, unemployment, and infrastructure pressure as key challenges facing the region.
“Addressing these issues will require leadership that is informed, decisive, and responsive,” she said, adding that councillors must familiarise themselves with all relevant policy and governance frameworks.
Erongo Regional Council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe said the induction marked the start of a new term focused on cooperation and shared responsibility.
He described the council as a group of policymakers elected to deliver on the expectations of the region’s residents and said success depends on working together.
“Camaraderie in leadership is not accidental. It is built through respect, consistency and a willingness to place shared goals above individual interests,” Kanelombe said.
He said effective service delivery depends on a strong working relationship between councillors and officials.
“When councillors and officials operate as partners, grounded in clearly defined roles and mutual accountability, the institution becomes resilient and effective,” he said.
Under the theme “One Region, One Vision”, the induction programme aims to enhance councillors’ comprehension of planning, finance, health, education, and land services.
The workshop marks the formal start of the council’s new term and sets the direction for decision-making focused on the interests of the Erongo Region as a whole.
