Kavango Can Feed Namibia  The Namibian

Kavango communities get safe water access amid crocodile threats  The Namibian

A crisis is unfolding in the deep rural area of Livayi village in Kavango East, where young children are forced to live in unsafe conditions just to access basic education. Kavango East Education Director Christine Shilima reveals that the Livayi Primary School hostel project remains stalled due to lack of funding and severe road accessibility. Incomplete infrastructure and raw, inaccessible roads have stalled a vital school hostel project. Consequently, desperate parents are making a painful choice, sending children as young as Grade 2 to fend for themselves in a community makeshift hostel just to secure an education. No proper meals, just Mahangu flour, which the children pound themselves to cook porridge, which they eat with traditional relish known as Ntjivi, derived from rosewood trees, and sometimes Mutete. Joseph Kamenye, a concerned parent, stressed, "The children's accommodation is a crisis. Although the girls are in the completed girls' hostel, they struggle with water, no electricity, no beds, sleeping on mattresses, and no adult supervision. The boys' hostel was abandoned at the foundation level. The government has forgotten this project. Our children are struggling with getting food, as the ministry of education can't provide for them, as there is no completed hostel." The affected learners are from villages surrounding Livayi village. "This is a school in the deep, deep rural area in the inland. The road to access the school is again not that accessible. It's difficult to access this school. There's no even gravel road," explained Shilima. The director said standard project budgets from the Department of Works ignore harsh rural terrain. A contractor building in an urban area receives the same funding as one struggling to haul heavy materials through the deep sand of rural Kavango East. Consequently, projects stall, leaving infrastructure incomplete. "Two bidders were awarded. One for the boy's hostel, another one for the girl's hostel. For the girl's hostel, the contractor completed it. But for the boy's hostel, the contractor did not complete. The reason being, they did not have sufficient funds to embark on a project of that kind that was awarded to the contractor in comparison with the other contractor, who perhaps was well established financially. So, I did have some visits to the school. I understand the environment and the type of the road. I appreciate the contractor for the girl's hostel and that he survived that type of road." Due to a lack of budget, the government cannot finish a school hostel or feed learners. Because girls face severe safety risks squatting nearby, desperate parents struck a deal to move them into an incomplete, unequipped girls' hostel, while boys remain in makeshift structures.

The Tjirakana Fish Farm project in Tondoro Constituency, Kavango West Region, has been handed over to the community. The N$2 million project was funded by the Kavango West Regional Council to promote food security, create income opportunities and address rural poverty. Established in 2017 with seven members, the Tjirakana Fish Farm project was initiated to address poverty, unemployment, low household incomes and food insecurity in the community. The project uses fish farming as a means of generating income and supporting food production. Project member Elifas Kandjimi says four fish ponds have been constructed, with approximately 4 000 fingerlings stocked in two of them. The project has also received fish feed, equipment, training, electricity and a water pump. "Since receiving support, the project has made important progress towards its goal of establishing a productive fish farming enterprise. One of the significant milestones achieved is the construction of four fish ponds, which provide the infrastructure necessary for fish production. Furthermore, the project has stocked approximately 4,000 fingerlings in the two ponds. This is an important step towards establishing fish production capacity and creating a foundation for future income generation and food security." Kandjimi acknowledged the Kavango West Regional Council for funding the construction of the ponds, procurement of fingerlings, fish feed and equipment, as well as training for project members. Tondoro Constituency Councillor Joseph Sikongo said the project's progress would depend on the commitment, teamwork and accountability of its members. Councillor Joseph Sikongo emphasised that receiving financial support is only the beginning; meanwhile, the success of the project depends on the commitment, teamwork, transparency, accountability and dedication by team members. "We have to work hard. We must work as if we are going to die tomorrow so that those that we are going to leave behind will have food on the table. All businesses. If there's a community business, if there's a group business, the only serious challenge is division. If you are divided, you will fall. But if you are together, that business will flourish. Some people from the community can come and tease you and laugh at you. Let that not be your discouragement. Let that be your encouragement." Sikongo also acknowledged residents involved in gardening along the river and encouraged people in Tondoro Constituency to use available natural resources to address poverty and unemployment.

Kavango Resources (LSE:KAV) on Monday announced it has received statutory commissioning approval for its 50-tonne-per-day gold processing plant and tailings…

The remains of a 30-year-old woman were found in a shallow grave at Shimpanda village in Kavango East on Friday. Kavango East's Police Acting Regional Commander Bonifatius Kanyetu says the woman was reported missing by her 29-year-old boyfriend on the 17th of October. "We initially registered a file for a missing person, and with the inquiry, we couldn't come up with why she could have left the place unless he could have explained. We kept him as a person of interest. During our interview and interrogation, he confirmed that he initially killed her in the plot and buried the body." Police investigations revealed that the deceased was assaulted and then strangled before she was buried, along with some of her personal belongings. This all took place on the premises where the suspect works. "We are going to register a case of murder read with domestic violence, and the fact that he tried to dispose of the body, we will definitely charge him also for defeating the course of justice." The deceased was identified as Anagret Naporo Mushinga. The suspect is in custody and will appear in the Rundu Magistrates Court on Monday.

Southern Africa-focused metals exploration and gold development company Kavango Resources has successfully commissioned its concept phase 50 t a day gold processing plant at the Hillside gold project, in Zimbabwe. The Hillside pilot processing plant was developed as a proof-of-concept project to validate the company's processing flowsheet and confirm expected metallurgical performance. The operational and metallurgical data generated are expected to inform future development and expansion decisions as Kavango advances Hillside toward larger-scale production.

The Association of Regional Councils (ARC) held its 9th Congress in Rundu, Kavango East Region, under the theme “Shaping Tomorrow, Together.” ARC President Matengu Simushi and Chief Administrative Officer Irene Marenga, discusses the association’s role in representing regional councils, strengthening regional governance and advancing development across Namibia’s 14 regions.

Two more electrocution victims in Kavango after water pump incident  The Namibian

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is consulting communities on two draft Bills: the Human Tissue Bill and the Blood Services Bill. During a consultation meeting held at the Kavango West Regional Council in Nkurenkuru, Ncuncuni Constituency Councillor Michael Naiteta urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to ensure the proposed laws address the needs and interests of all citizens. The two Bills are expected to establish a national framework for regulating human tissue and blood services for the benefit of all Namibians. "As a community, our voices matter because these decisions made will definitely affect us one way or another." Kavango West Regional Council Chairperson Fillipus Tenga stressed the importance of regularly updating national laws to ensure they remain relevant to current needs and realities. "To truly serve the people, our laws must evolve to reflect our current realities, align with global standards, close legal gaps, and enhance accessibility and clarity." Before the discussions, the Chief Medical Laboratory Technologist in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Petrus Endjala, took participants through the key provisions of the proposed Bills. "The purpose, therefore, is to provide firm, the donation or the making available of human bodies and tissue for the purpose of medical or dental training, research, or therapy." The presentation prompted questions and concerns from participants, particularly around cultural beliefs, access to services, and the handling and protection of human tissue. "How will this bill address the conflict between our customs and our beliefs, as well as your requirements in terms of the bill?" "So I'm hoping all the regions, both Kavango West and East, will have that option for us to access suchservices." "Did the Bill say something in regard to the safeguarding of human organs and all those kinds of things during the postpartum examinations?" "I think the bill should at least address the research ethics and approvals of specimens, storage, long-term storage, and research and disposal. How is the Bill going to address these types of things?" The contributions gathered during the consultation will help shape the proposed bills, ensuring that the final legal framework takes into account the concerns, needs and rights of all Namibians.

The National Council Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are undertaking an outreach programme in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions from 2 to 13 November. The initiative aims to educate communities on the National Council's legislative review and oversight functions, promote understanding of the separation of powers and encourage greater public participation in parliamentary processes. To discuss further, Radio Current Affairs' Vanessa Kamatoto spoke to the chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Muha.

As the festive season approaches, Rundu is gearing up for the period and aims to make good returns from the tourism business. One of its activities is the boat cruise business at Rundu Beach – one of the hangout places for tourists and locals who want to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Kavango River. Rundu Beach attracts more than 1,000 locals and tourists between December and January. During this period, the business creates seasonal employment for locals, helping them earn an income and support their livelihoods. The Rundu Beach Activity Manager, Peter Immanuel, is encouraging locals to explore business opportunities that promote Rundu as a tourist destination, attract investment and create more opportunities for small and medium enterprises. "We create up to about 30 jobs so that they can learn jobs. This year there's not much of a difference. We are even doing it much more than we did last year, so we are really hoping that it doesn't rain so much so it doesn't distort our activities; otherwise, we are really happy with it. Our peak season is not only the festive season; our peak season is winter. We had a lot of turn-ups this year, especially the ones that we do in the essential work and species, crocodiles and crows. So our peak season is not only for tourists, but of course, our local people want to experience it; they want to come down to the new region, just have them and stay close to the river, and it's also like another season." Immanuel also expressed appreciation to organisations and local authorities for hosting sporting activities, tournaments and expos that attract visitors and boost businesses for local entrepreneurs. He also emphasised the need for locals to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and establish businesses that generate income and contribute to economic growth. "This past week I really need to express our gratitude to the organisers of the last tournament that was there for the teachers. The middle cabinet we had a few days ago, and of course the town council organised the trade fair, and it's a very big initiative. It's brought in a lot of people, not necessarily the ones that have been in the new for new ones. We are really, really excited to get there for new people that are coming to town. Our business is niche; we are taking old people in the water, so some people are their first time being in the Rundu festival. But we've had our peak season. We are really grateful, very grateful, to the council and very grateful to the international community." He hopes to create an inclusive business environment where entrepreneurs can access space to trade, sell food and offer complementary activities, allowing more local businesses to benefit from Rundu's growing tourism potential.

Disability inclusion remains an important issue in the Kavango regions, particularly in ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal access to education, healthcare, employment and public services. This edition of Talk of the Nation explores the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including accessibility barriers, discrimination and limited support services. The discussion also highlights the role of institutions, government and communities in promoting disability rights and creating inclusive environments. The programme seeks to raise awareness and encourage practical action towards ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in all aspects of society.

Namibia is expected to experience high temperatures this week, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions, where maximum temperatures could exceed 40°C in some areas. The heat is also expected to spread towards the two Kavango regions and parts of central and northern Namibia later in the week. There is [...] The post Another very hot week ahead, temps could exceed 40°C appeared first on Future Media News.

The 9th Congress of the Association of Regional Councils (ARC) is underway in Rundu, in the Kavango East Region, bringing together regional leadership from across Namibia to deliberate on matters concerning regional governance, development and the future of local authorities. Held under the theme “Shaping Tomorrow, Together", the congress provides a platform for elected leaders from all 14 regions to engage, exchange ideas and reflect on the role of regional councils in advancing national development. The congress is expected to provide an opportunity for regional leaders to assess progress, address challenges affecting regional governance and strengthen collaboration towards more effective service delivery and development.

Parents of learners at Augustinus Maashika Secondary School want the construction of the hostel sped up. The learners currently share space in Ndiyona Combined School, whose hostel was partially gutted by fire last year. Parents' spokesperson Benedictus Kagho said, "Our hostel got burnt on 01 November 2025. The Directorate of Education for the Kavango East region responded immediately, together with the CRO for the Kavango East Regional Council, to attend to the matter. Promises were made on that day. The office of the governor also sent their representative to collect evidence with the hope of bringing our situation to a rescue, but nothing came after that day. Despite blankets and sheets, dining utensils, matrasses and beds. The Prime Minister Dr. Elijah Ngurare, with his team, during his visit last year, came by; a meeting was held, and he promised to avail resources to revamp our hostel. But since then nothing was done." Currently, Ndiyona Hostel does not have the capacity to accommodate all learners. "We are frequently experiencing learners being admitted to hospital due to cardiac-related problems. There is a very shortage of accommodation for our children compared to when it was not yet damaged by fire." Parents are calling on the Ministry of Education to act, or they will shut down the burnt hostel in January. "What the Ministry must expect. No registrations of borders will take place next year, January 2027, at Ndiyona Hostel if there will be no renovations done by then. The hostel will be closed due to the current situation until service is provided." They said teaching and learning are no longer taking place as they were before. "Due to this situation our children are exposed to rental accommodation in which they have no option but to accept whatever they may be exposed to. A girl-child is the one who is dangerously exposed, particularly to alcohol and sexual abuse." The NBC visited the Augustinus Maashika Secondary School site, where construction is underway. The parents' petition was handed to Ndiyona Councillor Laurentius Mukoya, who promised to forward it to the relevant offices.

[New Era] - The Kavango West Regional Football Association (KWRFA) has elected new leadership to oversee football activities in the region following a successful Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nkurenkuru last Saturday.

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has advised the Rundu Town Council to address the practical challenges that entrepreneurs and investors face. These include the need for reliable municipal services, accessible trading facilities, adequate road infrastructure, serviced land and efficient, predictable municipal procedures. Dr. Ngurare's statement was read on his behalf by Kavango East Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka at the opening of the ninth edition of the Rundu Annual Trade Fair. He said a trade fair is not simply an exhibition but rather an opportunity to build business relationships, attract investment, encourage innovation and promote entrepreneurship. "Rundu holds an important position in Namibia's economic development. Its strategic location along major trade routes and its proximity to our neighbours within the Southern African Development Community provide significant opportunities for economic growth. The town has considerable potential in agriculture, timber, tourism, agro-processing and cross-border trade." Ngurare said the trade fair enables micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to connect with established companies and access markets at regional, national and international levels. The premier said the government has been doing its part in terms of providing financial means to assist the town to develop. "During the 2025/26 financial year, Rundu Town Council was allocated N$75 million for infrastructure improvements, according to the reported account of government investment by the Kavango East regional leadership. Furthermore, the national development budget makes provision for N$3.5 million in the 2026/27 financial year towards the construction of trading platforms for informal traders in Rundu." Rundu deputy mayor Regina Nekare welcomed exhibitors to the fair. "This platform was precisely designed to bridge the gap between vision and implementation between local SMEs and corporate giants between public sector facilitators and the private sector." The trade fair is being held under the theme "Embracing Technology for Sustainable Business Growth"