The Kavango West Regional Council has officially launched its constituency visitation programme, set to run from 9 to 19 June. The initiative kicked off today in Silikunga village, located in the Mpungu Constituency, and aims to strengthen direct engagement between government leaders and local communities.
Speaking at the opening session, Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo emphasized government’s ongoing commitment to inclusive, community-driven development. She underscored the importance of addressing local concerns and called on law enforcement agencies to intensify their crackdown on drug-related activities, warning that the rise in substance abuse is contributing to escalating crime levels across the region.
“Drug abuse is not only harming our youth but is becoming a serious threat to peace and security in our communities,” Sinimbo cautioned.
Echoing the Governor’s concerns, Regional Police Commander Commissioner Julia Sikuwa Jeo urged residents to work closely with the police in combating gender-based violence. She also appealed to parents to instill strong moral values and discipline in their children, describing it as a cornerstone for safer, more stable communities.
On the development front, Director of Planning, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Egidius Nambara, unveiled key infrastructure plans aimed at addressing persistent service delivery challenges. These include two large-scale water pipeline projects one stretching from Rundu to Mpungu and another extending to Mururani. A canal system is also in development to supply clean water to hard-to-reach rural settlements.
To resolve chronic electricity issues, Nambara said the regional council is in talks with utility providers to replace aging infrastructure. Many rural communities continue to suffer outages, often linked to deteriorating wooden poles.
In the realm of digital access, Deputy Director for Rural Development Integration, Elizabeth Mupili, spotlighted the region’s only ICT Centre, based in Mpungu. The centre currently provides essential services such as internet access, computer facilities, and a sound system but is operated by just one volunteer.
“This facility has the potential to empower our youth and bridge the digital divide, but it urgently requires more staffing and resources,” Mupili stressed.
The visitation programme will continue in other constituencies over the coming days, with the council expected to gather more feedback to inform planning and resource allocation across the Kavango West Region.
