Delayed projects worsen Kavango East’s 70% poverty burden
Kavango East has recorded a poverty rate of 70%, ranking it among the poorest regions in the country, according to Namibia Statistics Agency figures cited by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Poverty Eradication, Labour and Industrial Relations.
Committee chairperson Justine Jonas said this reality demands urgent intervention, stressing that poverty alleviation programmes in the region must be prioritised and better coordinated.
Speaking to Namibian Sun last Friday, Jonas said the committee’s oversight visit to Kavango East and West, which ended on 29 September, exposed several delays and inefficiencies that continue to undermine government’s poverty eradication agenda.
She pointed, in particular, to the procurement committee’s failure to process income-generating project applications for the 2024/25 financial year.
Direct community engagement
“Applications were submitted in May, but to date nothing has been attended to. One can then ask what this means to applicants who are waiting for feedback, who want to uplift their own economic challenges and those of their communities,” Jonas said.
Jonas stressed that government officials must take their mandate seriously, warning that delays translate directly into hardship.
“If a submission is not attended to, someone out there is going to go hungry, because he or she was supposed to benefit from what was supposed to be implemented,” she said.
She further underlined the importance of direct community engagement, saying that listening to people on the ground enables lawmakers to identify priority areas.
She also called for traditional authorities and regional councillors to be included in project monitoring, arguing that their exclusion leaves rural communities without a voice.
“We are mandated to serve the people. Government efforts must be implemented — not looking at who is doing what — but to ensure Namibians are receiving services as intended,” Jonas said.
The committee is expected to compile a report with its findings and recommendations for tabling in the National Assembly.
Committee chairperson Justine Jonas said this reality demands urgent intervention, stressing that poverty alleviation programmes in the region must be prioritised and better coordinated.
Speaking to Namibian Sun last Friday, Jonas said the committee’s oversight visit to Kavango East and West, which ended on 29 September, exposed several delays and inefficiencies that continue to undermine government’s poverty eradication agenda.
She pointed, in particular, to the procurement committee’s failure to process income-generating project applications for the 2024/25 financial year.
Direct community engagement
“Applications were submitted in May, but to date nothing has been attended to. One can then ask what this means to applicants who are waiting for feedback, who want to uplift their own economic challenges and those of their communities,” Jonas said.
Jonas stressed that government officials must take their mandate seriously, warning that delays translate directly into hardship.
“If a submission is not attended to, someone out there is going to go hungry, because he or she was supposed to benefit from what was supposed to be implemented,” she said.
She further underlined the importance of direct community engagement, saying that listening to people on the ground enables lawmakers to identify priority areas.
She also called for traditional authorities and regional councillors to be included in project monitoring, arguing that their exclusion leaves rural communities without a voice.
“We are mandated to serve the people. Government efforts must be implemented — not looking at who is doing what — but to ensure Namibians are receiving services as intended,” Jonas said.
The committee is expected to compile a report with its findings and recommendations for tabling in the National Assembly.
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