Foreword by the Chairperson of Omuthiya Town Council

Omuthiya Town Council plays a unique role in the social and economic success of Omuthiya, Oshikoto Region, as the capital city of the region, and the country at large. Omuthiya Town Council (OTC) is a statutory body with a constitutional mandate to govern the affairs of its area of jurisdiction. The Council, like other Local Authorities in Namibia, is mandated to direct the development of its town, provide quality services to its people among others on a continuous basis.

In pursuit of this ideal, Omuthiya Town Council is committed to providing prompt and affordable services to all residents, investors and visitors alike through effective and efficient use of resources. It is against this background that Omuthiya Town Council saw it necessary to apply critical and analytical thinking both in reviewing the old strategic plan and formulating a new five-year strategic plan for the period 2018/19 – 2022/23. The new strategic plan sets the long term direction in order to fulfill its mandate.

Our strategic plan is unique in that it is coupled with our annual budgeting cycle, allowing us to align the strategic projects and resource needs accordingly. The process was a collaborative engagement that included the Oshikoto Regional Council and our community at large. We spent many hours working together to define our strategic focus areas as a Council and, to identify where we are going and what we want to accomplish during the next five years and beyond.

Omuthiya Town Council recently turned 10 years in September 2018, the time we were busy with the preparation of the Strategic Plan with will make the Council realize its vision to be the strategic gateway town, with equal access to economic opportunities for all.

In addition, Omuthiya Town Council embraces its role in contributing towards Namibia’s development goals as per Vision 2030 and National Development Plan (NDP) 5. The Strategic Plan (2018–2023) therefore complements Namibia’s dream of prosperity, as articulated in the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) launched by the President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency. Hage G. Geingob in 2016, and which supports the philosophy of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063.

I would especially like to thank Price WatersHouse Coopers (PWC) team and Mr. Samuel Panduleni Mbango the Chief Executive Officer, and his beloved team who led the initial planning phase and diligently spearheaded the process thereby culminating into the development of this document. Equally, I recognise the contributions made by the fellow Council members with whom we share mutual service delivery responsibilities. I am encouraged and thankful that we recognise and appreciate the importance of delivering service to our people.

Further training was extended to rural areas whereby 312 community members across the region’s 11 constituencies were trained in poultry farming –– 36 in piggery production, 37 in horticulture and a further 227 in home economics-jam making. As part of its community outreach arm, the centre further distributed 13 piglets to seven beneficiaries for community development programmes in the region.

Let us, therefore, fully commit ourselves to conscientiously implement our strategic plan to realise our collective vision. Now is the time to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the ordinary residents and showcase Omuthiya as the strategic gateway town, with equal access to economic opportunities for all.

Hon. Katrina Ndinelago Uusiku MAYOR & CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL