… Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka said rapid urbanisation, population growth and income inequality have contributed to the expansion of informal settlements at Rundu. …
The governor of Kavango East is reviving the government's idle Uvhungu-Vhungu dairy farm, which has been non-operational for 16 years. About 70% of the resuscitation work is complete, with plans for joint ventures and approximately N$160 million needed to make the farm operational.
Why it matters
Uvhungu-Vhungu dairy farm revival after 16 years idle could generate rural employment and support food production.
The governor of Kavango East is reviving the government's idle Uvhungu-Vhungu dairy farm, which has been non-operational for 16 years. About 70% of the resuscitation work is complete, with plans for joint ventures and approximately N$160 million needed to make the farm operational.
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka called on residents to adopt healthier lifestyles and embrace organic food production at a health awareness walk, warning against reliance on processed foods and encouraging families to start backyard gardens.
Kavango East Football Association aims to win the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup for the first time and see more of their players selected for the shadow under-20 national team. The region faces financial constraints that have hampered preparations, though they have retained experienced players from last year's runner-up squad.
Kavango East Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka called on residents to transition from celebrating political freedom to generating shared prosperity, addressing youth unemployment, water provision, and housing as critical challenges while emphasizing that independence must include access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for all families in the region.
Kavango East and West regions are recording development gains including road upgrades, agricultural projects, and town expansions, but local leaders say progress remains uneven and call for faster implementation and decentralised budgets. Recent highlights include a hydrocarbon discovery in Kavango West and major infrastructure projects in Rundu.
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka handed over a newly constructed two-roomed house to Kapango Kavera and her family at Fumbe village, after her plight of sleeping on the ground with grandchildren under a tree became public. The corrugated zinc structure, built at a cost of N$30,000 using State funds through collaboration with Rundu Vocational Training Centre, provides immediate relief, and the governor pledged to furnish it with beds and blankets.
Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel met with traditional authorities in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions to discuss community-led conservation, governance in conservancies, and wildlife management. Daniel reaffirmed government commitment to working with traditional leaders on sustainable biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing, and received a submission from the Hambukushu Traditional Authority regarding Bwabwata National Park management.
Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka officially broke ground on Saturday for construction of a basic sports field in Divundu village, Kavango East region, describing it as a strategic investment to nurture grassroots talent and address rural sports infrastructure gaps. The project, awarded to Roads Construction Company, is aligned with the Sixth National Development Plan and emphasises local employment and community upliftment.
The central government has approved N$108 million to address dangerous stormwater and erosion problems in Rundu's Tutungeni suburb, with work now underway by Chinese contractor CHICO. The project involves constructing an underground canal system and stabilising slopes near the Kavango River to prevent sinkholes threatening homes and infrastructure.
A parliamentary standing committee is holding consultative meetings in Rundu this week with five major local authorities to assess land delivery and housing provision. The consultations aim to give Parliament an evidence-based understanding of how housing is planned and delivered at local level, identify constraints, and propose solutions to Namibia's estimated 300,000 to 700,000-unit housing backlog.
A parliamentary standing committee on urban and rural development is holding consultative meetings at Rundu with five major local authorities to assess land delivery and housing provision. The consultations aim to gather evidence on how housing is planned and delivered, identify constraints, and propose practical measures to address Namibia's estimated housing backlog of 300,000 to 700,000 units.