Several challenges persist in the Oshikoto Region such as rural poverty , youth unemployment , gender inequality and gender – based violence , access to basic amenities in rural areas and access to finance and markets . This is according to African Peer Review Mechanism ( APRM ) Director of Operations , Alfons Witbeen , who during a stakeholder meeting here on Monday highlighted some of the challenges in Oshikoto . Witbeen said inadequate classrooms resulting in higher teacher learner ratios and overcrowded classrooms is one of the challenges . ‘ Higher costs of tertiary education and an inadequate number of vocational training centres also pose challenges ,’ Witbeen added . He further added that land reform and decentralisation have been moving at a slow pace , which negatively affects the pace of sustainable socio – economic development in the region . ‘ The absence of a high court in some regions is limiting access to justice . Namibia only has two high courts which are in Oshakati and Windhoek ,’ said Wi
tbeen . Additionally , Namibia has high youth unemployment , and increasing trends of tribalism and regionalism and income inequality could trigger conflicts . ‘ The issue of the Caprivi concerned group remains a trigger for instability ,’ Witbeen highlighted . Child marriage in some communities , especially in the Kunene Region , is another Namibian challenge , besides perceived corruption . ‘ The absence of a legal framework for curbing potential tax malpractices in the extractive sector poses significant risk of losses in the public sector ,’ he continued . He also stated that there is a lack of a national legal framework for corporate social responsibility that obligates public and private firms to plough back into the communities with a view to improve and address their socio – economic issues . APRM is an organ of the African Union that aims to improve effective governance on the continent and it currently has 55 member states . APRM is busy creating awareness on the country report that was launched on
07 March 2024

Source: The Namibia News Agency