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Keetmanshoop Municipality
Alive with Possibilities
Keetmanshoop is the biggest town in the Karas Region in Southern Namibia. It is also known as the administrative capital of the South. It is named after Johann Keetmann, a German industrialis
Keetmanshoop is attracting significant interest from both the private and public investors. The investment opportunities range from real estate, retail, solar energy, and logistics to hospitality. The town boasts virgin land totalling about 40 000 hectares which is characterised by hospitable terrain for most uses. Some of the most significant investment projects underway include the University of Namibia Campus, 420 upmarket residential plots and the 10 000 square meter retail centre funded by Old Mutual.
The town is governed by seven councilors, three women and four men. Two female councilors serve as members of the management committee. The council operates on an annual budget of N$ 57 million.
The town is situated in a semi-arid area, normally receiving an annual average rainfall of only 152 millimetres (6.0 in), meaning temperatures can be extremely unfavourable, being either too hot or too cold. This can be a challenge for climate change.
Not much has changed since the beginning of the Gender Links gender mainstreaming intervention. The Management Council still consists of 4 male councillors and 3 male councillors. The Council is headed by a male chief executive officer, and the strategic executives of the council are male dominant as well. A 50/50 representation has not yet been achieved, however there is a notable female representation.
The employment statistics as per the Gender Links situation analysis indicated a general male dominance in employment throughout the council structures. The council has policies which are gender aware and responsive. The council however has no gender and marginalised persons specific budgeting, and aims to consider that in the future.
A Private Public Dialogue platform was piloted in Keetmanshoop by the Local Economic Development agency (LEDA) in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development. The concept involves bringing together private and public interest groups in the local economic development to identify challenges, opportunities and action plans for local economic development. This is one of the platforms that exists in the municipality and is spearheaded by the municipality.
The initiative was launched in November 2012 and the three priority areas identified are:
– Cooperation and coordination between the private and public sector
– Enterprise development in Keetmanshoop
– Marketing the town of Keetmanshoop.
The community is consulted regularly on issues that affect them. The Municipality in its strategic plan highlights stakeholder perspectives as one of their key objectives. This involves getting the community’s opinion on their priorities, issues of governance, development, housing, safety, environment and service provision through surveys and community meetings. Community meetings are held on a quarterly basis.
The council is currently faced by a management conflict challenge, whereby political councillors and council administrative staff are not getting working together well. This has caused stagnation in policies and capital projects implementation.
Currently the council needs a conflict resolution intervention to remedy the current situation; the administrative and political arms are not getting along, and this is blocking development in the council.
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