Kavango East ‘indebted’ to ReconAfrica – Wakudumo

Kenya KamboweRunduIn his state of the region (Sora) address yesterday, governor Bonifatius Wakudumo reserved a special mention for ReconAfrica, saying the people of the Kavango East Region are ‘indebted’ to the Canadian oil exploration company.Wakudumo’s remarks – in reference to the company’s corporate social responsibility – are sure to unsettle critics, who accuse it of rolling out assistance to communities in order to improve how it is perceived, particularly by government leaders.Anti-exploration activists have consistently accused the company of faking oil potential in Kavango East to boost its stock share price. They also accused ReconAfrica of deploying environmentally-dangerous methods in its oil pursuit.The company has always rubbished the claims, saying everything it does is sustainable and approved by the country’s environmental authorities.In his address, the governor said the company has – during the period under review - drilled 13 boreholes, assisted the region with around N$7.5 million to assist in the fight against Covid-19 and provided scholarships to five students currently at studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.“ReconAfrica, the people of the Kavango East Region are indebted to you,” he said.Environmental damageWakudumo’s praise for the Canadian company comes at a time when environmentalists - both local and international - are calling for ReconAfrica to be stopped in its tracks, lest it cause irreparable environmental damage.The issue has turned into a very controversial topic, with those who sing the company’s praises accused of being paid to do so. On the other hand, those against ReconAfrica’s exploits have allegedly been paid by international companies.Meanwhile, government - through the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia and the environment ministry - has assured the public that ReconAfrica’s exploration for oil and gas is above board.This as anti-ReconAfrica pressure groups continue to campaign for the company to pack its bags, citing possible pollution of the Okavango delta.Protestors are convinced that once ReconAfrica is allowed to continue with its oil-finding mission, it will engage in fracking.Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process used to extract oil or gas from sedimentary rocks that are highly compacted with poor permeability, which is said to poison groundwater, pollute surface water, impair wild landscapes and threaten wildlife.ReconAfrica has, however, assured government and the public that it has no plans to engage in the controversial process.kenya@namibiansun.com

Kavango East ‘indebted’ to ReconAfrica – Wakudumo

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-05

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Kavango East ‘indebted’ to ReconAfrica – Wakudumo

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-05

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