EDITORIAL: Oil must empower //Karas Region

One of the paradoxes of African oil finds is that many citizens in those countries are wallowing in poverty. In Namibia, the discoveries have been made in the //Karas Region, where the heights of poverty can be seen from as far as Omusati.While oil will be a national resource, the host region has to be first in the queue when the windfalls hit home.With a population of nearly 90 000 inhabitants, //Karas faces severe poverty among nearly 25% of children. NBC reported that inadequate access to basic services like water, housing and health facilities were identified as priority areas in an effort to eradicate poverty in Namibia by 2025.The existence of widespread poverty, in the face of so much oil production, is a common tale in Africa. Namibia must avoid a situation where the natives of //Karas are elbowed to the periphery while jobs and other benefits are channelled elsewhere. It’s already happening with diamonds mined and fish caught in that region. //Karas residents have nothing to show for all the wealth nature has endowed them with.It was therefore pleasing to see mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo touring the region yesterday, and speaking to communities about oil prospects. He must listen to the people’s cries, which have been loud in recent months, and design deliberate interventions to uplift those communities.

EDITORIAL: Oil must empower //Karas Region

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-06

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EDITORIAL: Oil must empower //Karas Region

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-06

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