Lack of coordination hampering development in Kunene

OPUWO - Lack of coordination among traditional leaders and farmers is hampering development in the Kunene Region, Opuwo Urban Constituency Councillor Weich Mupia said on Thursday.

Mupia was speaking during a Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) meeting at Opuwo.

He said the government has tried to implement many projects such as the Baynes Hydropower Project, but people in Kunene have not been cooperating.

The governments of Namibia and Angola intend to build a hydropower station and dam at Orokawe or Baynes on the Kunene River, which forms the borderline between the two countries.

A group of traditional leaders however opposed the construction of the hydropower station as they said there are holy mountains and graves belonging to their ancestors in the area.

President Hage Geingob at a community meeting at Opuwo in 2015 also said the people of Kunene only have themselves to blame for the lack of development in the region as they have opposed the project.

“When the money goes back to the Treasury the community should look to themselves before they blame councillors,” Mupia said.

He further said N$30 million is available from the ministry of land reform and N$1.6 billion from the Environmental Investment Fund for use on projects in the agriculture sector, but it is nearly impossible to use it because of fighting amongst traditional leaders and farmers.

“Most villages have more than five traditional leaders that are against each other,” said Mupia.

He also urged the farmers to avoid conflict resulting mainly from traditional leadership and political matters and to instead work in unity to prevent money going back to the Treasury. - Nampa