Nkurenkuru: The Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) opened its first Nantu Likwafela satellite office in Nkurenkuru on Wednesday, bringing financial services closer to educators in the Kavango West Region. The cooperative enables teachers to save and borrow from their savings.

According to Namibia Press Agency, speaking at the event, Nantu's Kavango West Regional Chairperson, Daniel Lyambezi, said the services of the new office would provide crucial support to teachers who struggle financially and reduce their reliance on micro-lenders who often charge high interest rates. "The decentralised approach will make services more accessible to educators in the region. Let's embrace it because decentralisation has been done for us to get those services," Lyambezi said.

Nantu Secretary General Loide Shaanika encouraged teachers to join the cooperative, explaining that members can borrow from their collective savings rather than seeking loans from expensive micro-lenders. Shaanika expressed concern about educators taking their lives due to financial stress, saying: "We are not happy when we hear that our members are committing suicide because of financial stress. We have created a solution, therefore, make use of the services we have created for you."

She further revealed that Nantu and the cooperative signed a memorandum of understanding in January to strengthen their collaboration and improve member benefits. Some educators and retired teachers have praised the institution, saying it offers loans at low charges and remains accessible even after retirement. Shaanika indicated that more satellite offices would be established in other regions across the country.