Linekela Halwoodi
The Erongo Regional Council is reviewing its financial performance, development projects and governance systems amid a 10% budget reduction for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Chief Regional Officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo raised the need for improved budget execution, stronger project implementation and greater accountability when he opened the council’s second-quarter performance review meeting at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management on Monday.
The four-day review assesses progress against planned targets, identifies operational constraints and seeks measures to improve service delivery across the region.
While commending the council for its reported ranking as Namibia’s top-performing regional council in service delivery for three consecutive years, Ntelamo urged management not to become complacent.
“I am particularly concerned about the low execution rate of constituency projects and the lack of implementation plans,” he said, urging managers to identify implementation challenges and introduce corrective measures without delay.
He said the second quarter was a critical midpoint in the financial year, with programmes expected to have achieved at least 50% of their key milestones before implementation slowed during December and January.
Ntelamo called on managers to present evidence-based assessments that distinguish completed activities from outstanding work and demonstrate how performance could be improved.
Financial management is another priority following the 10% budget reduction, which he said had placed pressure on reserves and projected income.
“Sound financial management is therefore fundamental to the effective execution of our mandate,” he said.
He said the council must assess not only how much of its approved budget had been spent, but also whether expenditure aligned with priorities and contributed to intended outputs.
Revenue collection, outstanding financial commitments and projected year-end expenditure will also come under scrutiny to ensure available resources are used efficiently and responsibly.
Ntelamo urged officials to limit non-essential external trips and consider alternative means of engagement where appropriate.
He also emphasised the importance of internal controls, sound financial administration and adherence to procurement procedures, saying clear timelines were necessary to prevent delays from undermining project implementation.
“Every procurement process must have a clear timeline, we cannot afford indefinite delays that undermine our intended results,” he said.
Managers were further urged to strengthen contract management, verify deliverables and retain evidence supporting decisions and corrective measures.
“As your accounting officer, I wish to reiterate that accountability is a shared institutional responsibility,” Ntelamo said, stressing that every official had a role in safeguarding public resources.
The review will also examine human and institutional capacity, including staffing levels, skills gaps and coordination between directorates.
Ntelamo said even well-designed plans and adequate budgets could fail if an institution lacked the necessary skills, personnel or coordination mechanisms. He called for improved work allocation, targeted capacity building and stronger supervision.
He acknowledged concerns from officials who felt overlooked for professional development opportunities, saying training should be coordinated fairly and transparently and aligned with institutional priorities.
Despite the challenges, Ntelamo commended council employees for their contribution to the institution’s service delivery record. He attributed the achievement to staff commitment, professionalism and collective effort.
He added that the council had attracted institutions seeking to learn from its approaches to customer service, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and digital solutions in public administration.
However, he cautioned against complacency, saying the recognition should motivate officials to maintain and improve their performance.
“Our ambition, therefore, must not simply be to maintain our position as a leading regional council, but to build an institution recognised for excellence across the full spectrum of service delivery,” he said.
The review brings together representatives from the council’s directorates and business units to assess performance, identify operational risks and strengthen implementation for the remainder of the financial year.
Ntelamo urged officials to take ownership of their responsibilities and ensure approved plans and budgets translate into tangible development outcomes for communities across the Erongo region.
He said sustaining the council’s achievements required a collective commitment to accountability and continuous improvement, in line with its guiding principles, “One Region, One Vision”.
*Linekela Halwoodi is an Information Officer in the MICT, Erongo region.
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