Nkurenkuru: Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo says youth-led agriculture and job creation remain the central drivers of development in the region, highlighting three flagship projects during her State of the Region Address (SORA) in Nkurenkuru on Friday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Sinimbo delivered her keynote address under the theme 'Growing The Future Together: Youth-Led Agriculture, Employment and Prosperity for Kavango West,' where she emphasized the government's focus on transforming agriculture into a viable source of work and income for young people. "The future of Kavango West depends on how we use our land and how we empower our youth," she stated, underscoring the need to create opportunities that keep young people working and producing locally.
Sinimbo outlined the regional leadership's collaboration with ministries, traditional authorities, and development partners to tackle issues such as housing shortages, food insecurity, and limited income opportunities, especially among youth and vulnerable households in rural areas. She highlighted a low-cost housing initiative for vulnerable and destitute households, where the Office of the Governor allocated N.dollars 280,000 to construct 19 corrugated-iron housing units using a cash-for-work approach across several constituencies. "Through this housing support, we want to restore dignity and provide safer living conditions for our most vulnerable households," she said, urging community leaders to fairly identify needy residents without favouritism.
Furthermore, Sinimbo discussed the 'Tapeka, Lima, Tulye' initiative launched in Ncamagoro Constituency, which aims to distribute fruit tree seedlings to households, schools, and communities as a cost-effective measure to improve nutrition and small-scale income. Over 1,800 fruit tree seedlings have been distributed in several constituencies, with Mankupi next in line. "The objective of this project is simple but important: every household in Kavango West should have at least one fruit tree contributing to food on the table and, where possible, to income generation," she said.
On the subject of youth employment and culture, Sinimbo highlighted the Unkurungu Project, which concentrates on youth and the creative sector by developing a regional database of artists and cultural groups to facilitate targeted public funding and partner support. "We want our artists, musicians, and cultural groups to be recognized as economic actors, not only as entertainers. By organizing this sector, we can open doors for sustainable jobs and regional pride," the governor stated.
Finally, Sinimbo called for continued cooperation to ensure that development plans translate into visible changes in villages, settlements, and towns across Kavango West.