The allocation of budgets for developmental aspects of each region should be informed by available official statistics as this will lead to equity and fairness and achieved shared prosperity for the entire country.

This was said by Kavango West Region Governor Sirkka Ausiku in her address on the State of her region here Friday.

Ausiku said ‘As a region, we will continue to highlight our challenges until they are addressed. Of course, the region appreciates the positive responses from the government in addressing them, though not at a pace the region would like to see.’

She said the region remains highly rural saying the Kavango West Regional Council conducted feasibility studies where it identified growth points such as at Mpungu, Bunya, Katjinakatji and Ncamagoro villages for proclamation into settlements by 2023.

Kahenge, Rupara and Katwitwi settlements she added will be proclaimed as village councils by 2024.

The governor thus appealed to constituency councillors to initiate affordable housing projects at all identified growth point areas with the collaboration of the Shack Dwellers Federation and Build Together Programmes.

The governor further said her region has identified agriculture, manufacturing and tourism as its strategic sectors for regional development which could, with good investments, bring impactful changes to the livelihood of the communities.

“The region plans to render support to horticulture producers and subsistence farmers to improve their production through training and finding a market for them,” she stated.

During the year under review, the region received a total allocation of N.dollars 147 million for close to 41 development programmes to be implemented by various offices, ministries and agencies.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency