Windhoek: The Kavango West Regional Council's (KWRC) budget allocation for the 2025/2026 financial year failed to align with the region's developmental requirements. This is according to Kavango West Chief Regional Officer, Matheus Singambwe, who told Nampa in a recent interview that while the council received a N.dollars 68 million capital budget and a N.dollars 48 million operational budget, the figures approved by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development were significantly lower than the council's initial submission.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Singambwe stated that while the council remains committed to its developmental mandates, under-allocation from the central government has paralysed progress across the region. He noted that the mismatch between the requested funds and approved budget has left the council burdened with pending invoices, a mounting wage gap due to vacant posts, and high overhead costs.
The council's priority capital programme - the construction of the Kavango West Regional Council Office Park - was delayed after the contractor slowed work due to funding gaps, with completion originally targeted for 06 December 2024. 'Finishing the office park is crucial to halt high rental expenses, which currently exceed N.dollars 120 000 per month. We are paying twice, for construction and rent, because until we complete the office, the renting continues,' he stressed.
Beyond infrastructure, the shortfall is hampering service delivery as there are positions that were never filled, resulting in employees covering multiple roles. Singambwe stressed that the allocations also hampered the full operationalisation of the Rupara Rural Development Centre.
Public safety and basic infrastructure projects were sidelined as well. Vital programmes intended to provide safe water through pipe connections - aimed at reducing river-related fatalities - and the de-bushing of rural roads for better access remain underfunded and behind schedule, he added. Singambwe said the region remains committed to stretching the limited funds and seeking improved revenue sources, but warned that under-allocation will continue to delay outcomes.