Kavango West needs N$2.2bn to drive development

The Kavango West Regional Council will require an estimated N$2.2 billion over the next five years to address persistent development challenges, including poverty, unemployment, water shortages, inadequate infrastructure and a growing housing backlog.

The funding requirement forms part of the council’s strategic plan for 2025–2030, which was presented last week by the director of planning and economic development, Egidius Nambara.

Nambara said the strategy was informed by a range of critical challenges that continue to constrain development and service delivery in the region.

He said inadequate ICT and physical infrastructure remains one of the biggest obstacles, alongside limited access to serviced land, housing and sanitation, weak organisational culture and governance systems, constrained budget allocations, insufficient access to potable water, and disaster unpreparedness.

The council also identified high levels of poverty and unemployment, as well as slow progress in the proclamation and upgrading of settlements, as key issues requiring urgent intervention.

“We looked at many challenges affecting the region, but we had to identify those that are strategic in nature and have the greatest impact on development and service delivery,” Nambara said.

These challenges have shaped the council’s priorities for the next five years, organised under four strategic pillars: infrastructure development, socio-economic transformation, operational excellence, and equitable access to quality education.

"Everything we do should contribute towards achieving these priorities,” Nambara said.

Ambitious roadmap

Council has adopted ten strategic objectives to achieve its goals, which will require significant investment, with development projects alone estimated at N$2.2 billion over the five-year period. A further N$160.6 million has been projected for operational activities.

The strategy places strong emphasis on infrastructure development, reflecting longstanding service delivery gaps in many parts of the region, particularly in water provision, electrification, housing, sanitation, and ICT expansion.

At the same time, he cautioned that internal institutional weaknesses must also be addressed to ensure sustainable progress.

“We want to ensure that our organisational culture and governance are of a high standard because strong institutions are essential for effective service delivery,” Nambara said.

While the plan presents an ambitious roadmap for development, the council has warned that limited funding remains one of the biggest risks to successful implementation.