Kavango is left out: Kauma

WINDHOEK, 10 MAY  – The distribution of Namibia’s resources and development programmes are skewed and do not take into account studies that continuously rank the Kavango regions as the poorest, Rundu Urban Constituency Councillor Victoria Kauma has said.
Speaking in the National Council on Wednesday, Kauma blanketly stated that resource allocation from central government ignores studies that rate the Kavango East and Kavango West as the poorest regions in Namibia.
In 2015, the National Planning Commission ranked the then Kavango Region as the poorest region in Namibia. The study found that of the estimated 568 418 poor people in Namibia, 21 per cent are found in the Kavango Region, while Ohangwena and Oshikoto accounted for 15 per cent and 14 per cent of the poor, respectively.
“I don’t know now if Kavango is just being used to say this is the poorest region but when it comes to priority, you forget that these people are dying of hunger,” Kauma stated.
A bone of contention for Kauma is why the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare picked Khomas over the Kavango regions for its Food Bank pilot.
“We say that Kavango is the poorest but when it comes to the Food Bank, they are the last to benefit. When it comes to drought relief, they are the last to benefit,” Kauma said.
On housing provision, Kauma expressed utter disappointment in those who are in charge of the mass housing programme, saying they are not serious.
“You build a house on 300 square metres and expect this person to have a decent house; what decent house is built on 300 square metres?” she asked.
The Swapo councillor, however, noted that it is understandable to allocate plots measuring 300 square metres in crowded, rocky and mountainous areas.
“But if you come to Kavango, we have a lot of land where you can build a house and allow that person to expand that house,” she added.
She said houses should be build with a futuristic perspective and thus allow room for expansion.
Other issues of concern from her region were youth unemployment, and lack of empowerment of rural women and girls.
“Let’s stop talking about youth unemployment; maybe this term is frustrating the youth. We should stop saying youth unemployment. Let’s support them with funds and ideas,” she urged.
(NAMPA)