Windhoek — New councillors of the Grootfontein Town Council were sworn in recently with the former mayor Penny Popyeni Mwazi as the deputy mayor.

Councilor Emma Taukuheke is the new mayor of the town, while Councillor Gert Johannes Spangenberg retained his position as the chairperson of the Management Committee.

The former deputy mayor Councillor Absai Haimene is the deputy chairperson of the Management Committee and Councillor Pricilla Gaweseb retained her position as a member of the Management Committee, while Councillor Analise Mariechen !Garas and Councillor Ginzia De Bruin are ordinary council members.

"We have achieved few developments over the last few years and we should keep on working together in an inclusive approach to make Grootfontein a better place, especially for the future generations of this town and Namibia as whole. We should try our best to tackle key challenges that are facing our town, such as making services available for residents, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and crime in the town," said mayor Taukuheke.

The town's population is growing rapidly as more and more people from the surroundings farms and other areas in the country flock to Grootfontein. This has led to the mushrooming of informal settlements, which in turn puts pressure on the council to deliver services to all residents.

"There is a need to formalise and provide adequate services in the informal areas of the town. The council as an autonomous institution should make making decisions easy and faster for better implementation of council resolutions," said Taukuheke.

Two shopping malls will be constructed during the beginning of 2013 by Trans Caprivi Mall and Otjivanda Developers CC and Tunga Real Estate Fund Mall. The construction of the malls will provide both direct and indirect jobs to the residents of the town. The council has provided the 4-hectare piece of land to the investors and the value of the development is estimated at N$70 million.

Grootfontein serves as a gateway to some of the best eco- and adventure tourism establishments and attractions in Southern Africa and with its moderate climate it has become a tourism destination of choice.