Local authority councilors get training from NUST

Political leaders and administrators of local authorities across Namibia received training in good governance, leadership and project management.

The three days training, which took place in Ongwediva from 21 to 23 November, was attended by 173 councilors and senior local authority officials. The training was organized by the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) and was conducted by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).

“The training helped me a lot as it concentrated on some areas concerning my work,” said Mr Alpheus Nghikevali, a local authority councilor from Grootfontein Municipality.

Nghikevali, who was speaking to this newspaper at the end of the training, said that it was worth it for him to make it all the way to Ongwediva for the training.

“The course was well chosen and really worthy for us to be here to get this knowledge. These subjects apply to our daily work at the municipality. Residents of Grootfontein should look forward to better service delivery form us.”

Ms Maureen Kambala, the chief administration officer for ALAN said that only a few local authorities did not send representatives to the training, as they said that they did not have money to travel.

“Those local authorities which attended used their own money,” said Kambala.

“We are trying to make it an annual thing, so that councilors are equipped with practical knowledge concerning their work. If not next year then the year after when we will have new councilors, to make it an induction for incoming councilors.”

Kambala also stated that no challenges were observed at the training expect that the participants had expressed a view that the training was too short.