Gertze begins ||Kharas tour with Ariamsvlei visit

||Kharas Governor Dawid Gertze has taken the government's information-sharing, monitoring and evaluation programme to constituencies across the region as part of a tour aimed at bringing government closer to communities and strengthening engagement on regional development priorities.

The tour is being conducted in two phases, from 10-14 August and 31 August-4 September, and covers the region's seven constituencies. The first phase covers Ariamsvlei, Aussenkehr, Rosh Pinah, Oranjemund and Aus, while the second phase will cover Aroab, Keetmanshoop/Koës, Tses, Berseba and Bethanie.

Let's talk – Each visit combines community engagement sessions with inspections of capital and development projects to assess progress, identify challenges and improve accountability in the implementation of government programmes. The tour began in Ariamsvlei on 10 August, where residents raised concerns with Gertze, Karasburg East Constituency Councillor James Hawanga and heads of government offices, ministries and agencies.

Issues raised included sewerage networks, waste management, land for settlement and border expansion, and the open market. Residents were also informed about planned interventions in the Kharas Regional Council's 2026/27 Procurement Plan, including projects and services earmarked for Ariamsvlei.

Interventions - The planned interventions include a JCB front loader costing N$1.6 million to support road maintenance, the clearing of illegal dumping sites, the movement of soil and aggregate, and other municipal work. The council has allocated N$300,000 for fire brigade equipment to strengthen preparedness and response to veld and settlement fires and other emergencies. A further N$400,000 has been allocated for the valuation roll and demarcation of the Ariamsvlei Settlement to establish erf boundaries and support orderly settlement planning and land administration.

Another N$500,000 has been allocated for the valuation roll, while N$50,000 has been set aside for the construction of services to improve basic infrastructure needed for settlement development. An additional N$100,000 has been allocated for a refuse dumpsite to provide a designated area for municipal waste disposal. The plan also earmarks N$1.6 million for interlocked paved roads in priority areas of Ariamsvlei. The project, to be implemented by the Road Fund Administration, is intended to improve road surfaces, accessibility and movement within the settlement.

FDM measures – As part of the monitoring and evaluation component, Gertze and his delegation visited the Ariamsvlei border post to observe its day-to-day operations and assess challenges affecting its work.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services demonstrated measures being implemented to prevent and control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), particularly given the risk posed by outbreaks in neighbouring South Africa. The demonstration allowed the delegation to observe veterinary control measures aimed at protecting Namibia's livestock sector and preventing the disease from spreading into the region.

The delegation also visited Location 64 to assess the condition of the sewerage infrastructure, which continues to place pressure on the constituency and settlement offices amid budget constraints.

Following the Ariamsvlei engagement, the delegation is scheduled to travel to Noordoewer and Aussenkehr, where it is expected to be received by Katrina Cloete, the Karasburg West constituency councillor.