Windhoek: Kavango West's political and administrative leadership submitted a detailed document outlining the region's urgent development needs during an engagement with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and several line ministries at the Constitutional Boardroom in Windhoek on Friday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the delegation raised concerns over what they described as chronic underfunding, poor road infrastructure, stalled capital projects, and unequal allocation of development resources compared to other regions. Leading the team, Mpungu Constituency Councillor Titus Shiudifonya, standing in for the Kavango West Regional Council chairperson, expressed that residents were tired of persistent underfunding despite consistently supporting the ruling party. Shiudifonya emphasized the need for targeted support for Kavango West as the youngest region, questioning the current method used to distribute the national budget among regions.

Chief Regional Officer Matheus Singambwe told the meeting that the current allocation model disadvantages the region. For the 2026/27 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the region requested N$133,504,328, but the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development approved N$90,725,784. He further highlighted disparities in town and village council funding, noting significant differences in allocations between Nkurenkuru Town Council and other local authorities.

Regional leaders demanded clarity on the formula used to allocate development funds, pointing out discrepancies in the development budgets for Kavango West and other regions with similar populations. They appealed for Kavango West to be treated as a special case, arguing that inadequate funding fuels social issues in the region.

Prime Minister Ngurare urged ministries and agencies to improve coordination and resolve issues before they escalate, emphasizing the importance of continued engagement, communication, and hands-on leadership to ensure government interventions effectively reach communities.