Kunene development projects face challenges
The Kunene Region is facing challenges of inadequate funding, slow procurement processes and late approval of its budget, which has hampered the execution of development projects.
This according to the region’s progress report for 2021–2022, presented to the National Council.
The report pointed out that the region has been in the grips of a terrible drought, with the constituencies of Opuwo Rural, Epupa, Khorixas and Sesfontein experiencing a dry period that has lasted for seven years.
"The devastating negative impacts of climate change continue to weigh heavily on the vulnerable communities and farmers, leaving them with no choice but to move in search of grazing, resulting in constant migration."
Inadequate funding affects the implementation of programmes and projects ranging from the allocation of funds to supporting resources such as transport and daily and subsistence allowance for personnel to enable the execution of work, the report said.
It added that procurement processes are very slow and this can be attributed to the lack of capacity of staff members and the turning down of offers by successful bidders.
Operating without funds
Furthermore, the budget for regional and local authorities was only approved in August and September 2021. Until then, the authorities had been operating without funds, the report said.
"This made it difficult to fast-track the implementation of the planned programmes and projects. To make matters worse, the mid-term budget was already initiated as the budget approval was being communicated to the regional and local authorities."
The report also noted that there are different financial years for local authorities and for the rest of the government.
"The financial year of the local authorities runs from July to June, while that of other government offices, ministries and agencies runs from April to March, giving a three-month difference. This difference has significant effects on the execution of development projects for local authorities as they always miss out on their three productive months."
The report recommended harmonisation of the financial year of local authorities with that of the rest of government offices, ministries and agencies, or that consideration be given to allow local authorities to spend their funds in the months of April to June.
This according to the region’s progress report for 2021–2022, presented to the National Council.
The report pointed out that the region has been in the grips of a terrible drought, with the constituencies of Opuwo Rural, Epupa, Khorixas and Sesfontein experiencing a dry period that has lasted for seven years.
"The devastating negative impacts of climate change continue to weigh heavily on the vulnerable communities and farmers, leaving them with no choice but to move in search of grazing, resulting in constant migration."
Inadequate funding affects the implementation of programmes and projects ranging from the allocation of funds to supporting resources such as transport and daily and subsistence allowance for personnel to enable the execution of work, the report said.
It added that procurement processes are very slow and this can be attributed to the lack of capacity of staff members and the turning down of offers by successful bidders.
Operating without funds
Furthermore, the budget for regional and local authorities was only approved in August and September 2021. Until then, the authorities had been operating without funds, the report said.
"This made it difficult to fast-track the implementation of the planned programmes and projects. To make matters worse, the mid-term budget was already initiated as the budget approval was being communicated to the regional and local authorities."
The report also noted that there are different financial years for local authorities and for the rest of the government.
"The financial year of the local authorities runs from July to June, while that of other government offices, ministries and agencies runs from April to March, giving a three-month difference. This difference has significant effects on the execution of development projects for local authorities as they always miss out on their three productive months."
The report recommended harmonisation of the financial year of local authorities with that of the rest of government offices, ministries and agencies, or that consideration be given to allow local authorities to spend their funds in the months of April to June.
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