Kunene governor’s outreach helps remote communities

A week-long government outreach programme is bringing essential public services to some of Namibia’s most remote communities along the Kunene coastline and the Angolan border, where access to services is often limited by their isolation.

Spearheaded by Kunene governor Vipuakuje Muharukua, the joint stakeholder initiative, dubbed 'Kunene River Mouth Operation', targets communities with limited access to government services.

The operation is progressing well and is expected to conclude tomorrow, Alpha Uzera, an official in the governor’s office, told Namibian Sun.

Uzera said the intervention was necessitated by the difficulties residents face in accessing basic services, particularly healthcare and national identity documents, often requiring them to travel considerable distances.

The outreach covers 11 settlements and locations: Terrace Bay, Mowe Bay, Cape Fria, Angra Fria, Kunene River Mouth, Orupembe, Serra Cafema, Otjinungua (Marienfluss), Ondiye, Onjuva and Etanga.

“As these are among the most remote areas of the Kunene region, their residents have limited access to government services because of inadequate infrastructure and challenging terrain,” Muharukua said in a statement.

He said the joint outreach programme is set to take place annually, with the 2025 joint outreach conducted from 2 to 9 February last year.

“We will also assess and plan for regional infrastructure development, including roads, schools, telecommunications networks, clinics and community water infrastructure,” the governor added.

Key target areas

The programme seeks to facilitate the issuance of national identity documents, establish whether eligible residents are accessing government social grants and assess household livelihoods and living conditions.

Healthcare services are being provided in identified areas, while officials are also examining the state of educational facilities, telecommunications infrastructure and tourism activities.

Vulnerable households are also expected to benefit from humanitarian assistance and drought-relief food during the outreach, while community meetings are set to provide an opportunity for residents to raise concerns directly with government representatives.

On the security front, officials are engaging communities on policing and crime prevention while assessing legal and illegal activities, including possible illegal border-crossing points along Namibia's northern coastal boundary with Angola.

Larger objectives

A key outcome of the exercise will be a comprehensive assessment report to be submitted to the relevant offices, ministries and agencies for implementation.

This is intended to ensure that the outreach goes beyond a once-off government visit, translating the needs and challenges identified on the ground into actionable interventions by the responsible institutions, Muharukua said.

The outreach further seeks to identify potential mining and agricultural opportunities, alongside challenges relating to water provision and other essential infrastructure.

The operation brings together officials and representatives from various institutions, including the Kunene Regional Council, the Omusati governor's office, the prime minister's office, the Namibia Nature Foundation and the mines and energy ministry, alongside local authorities in Kunene.

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