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Namibian press · Organization

Kunene Regional Council

Also known as: KRC

Regional local government body in Kunene that faced budget freeze and salary payment crisis following administrative dispute over chief regional officer appointment.

2026-03-022026-08-21
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. March 2026

  2. New Era

    Kunene Regional Council is involved in legal dispute with Ministry of Urban and Rural Development

    Source

    “Another key matter raised during the meeting was a legal dispute involving the Kunene Regional Council and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.”

    Human-wildlife conflict talks …as UDF engages NNN

  3. New Era

    Kunene Regional Council was never informed about the mass recruitment drive conducted by Kaoko Fria Investment

    Source

    “The Kunene Regional Council says it was never informed about the mass recruitment drive conducted by Kaoko Fria Investment (Pty) Ltd, the company claiming to be behind the proposed Kaoko Fria Smart City in Kunene.”

    Kaoko Fria smart city in limbo
Politics

Kunene Regional Council budget frozen since March

The News

The Kunene Regional Council's 2026/27 budget has remained frozen since March due to a legal dispute over the reinstatement of chief regional officer George Kamseb, leaving the council unable to pay utilities and halting operational and capital projects. The council is only managing to pay staff salaries through a monthly arrangement involving two finance officials travelling to Windhoek, and is awaiting the Supreme Court's pronouncement on the matter.

18 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Kunene Regional Council budget frozen since March

    The Kunene Regional Council's 2026/27 budget has remained frozen since March due to a legal dispute over the reinstatement of chief regional officer George Kamseb, leaving the council unable to pay utilities and halting operational and capital projects. The council is only managing to pay staff salaries through a monthly arrangement involving two finance officials travelling to Windhoek, and is awaiting the Supreme Court's pronouncement on the matter.

    18 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

  1. Kunene Regional Council salaries dispute resolved with acting CRO

    The government and Kunene Regional Council have agreed to appoint an acting chief regional officer to restore administrative functions and facilitate salary payments, which were delayed due to a dispute involving the substantive CRO who is subject to legal proceedings.

    3 July 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 2 July

  1. Sankwasa resolves Kunene Regional Council salary dispute

    The Minister of Urban and Rural Development resolved a salary dispute at the Kunene Regional Council by securing agreement to relieve Chief Regional Officer George Kamseb of his duties and appoint an acting chief regional officer, allowing the ministry to release funds for employees' outstanding June 2026 salaries. Kamseb's case remains before the Supreme Court, and he would be reinstated and receive all due remuneration should the court rule in his favour.

    2 July 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. PM dismisses salary delay claims as technical matter

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has apologised to Kunene Region public servants over delayed salary payments and rejected claims by PDM leader McHenry Venaani that the delay was politically motivated. Venaani alleged that the Minister of Urban and Rural Development had stopped regional employees' salaries over a dispute with the former Chief Regional Officer, questioning the legal basis for withholding public servants' pay.

    1 July 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 30 June

  1. PDM leader accuses Swapo of delaying Kunene council salaries

    PDM leader McHenry Venaani accused Swapo of political retaliation over delayed salary payments to 94 employees of the Kunene Regional Council, including four councillors, whose June salaries were blocked following intervention by the urban and rural development minister. Prime minister Elijah Ngurare denied deliberate withholding and attributed the delays to administrative and technical issues.

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 26 June

  1. Kunene governor blames council dispute for unpaid salaries

    Kunene governor Vipuakuje Muharukua has accused the Kunene Regional Council of using employees as a "human shield" over a dispute involving George Kamseb's position as chief regional officer, after staff members reportedly did not receive their June salaries. Muharukua said Kamseb and those protecting him are responsible for the salary delays, not minister James Sankwasa, and has invited Sankwasa to a meeting on 1 July to find a solution.

    26 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Kunene Regional Council salaries unpaid due to minister suspension

    Kunene Regional Council employees did not receive salaries as government funds remain withheld by the urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa, who suspended disbursement in May citing concerns over the presence of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb. The suspension has also halted several development projects in the region.

    26 June 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 27 May

  1. Kunene launches N$28 million secondary school construction at Opuwo

    The Kunene Regional Council launched construction of Otjirongondo Secondary School at Opuwo as part of the education ministry's decongestion plan. The N$28.2-million project will include 20 classrooms, vocational workshops, laboratories, and a library, with plans for it to become the first phase of a boarding school.

    27 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 23 April

  1. Kunene Regional Council funds frozen, staff unpaid March and April

    Kunene Regional Council employees face a financial crisis after minister James Sankwasa blocked funds allocated to the council following a dispute over the appointment of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb in 2021. Staff have not received salaries for March and April, and the council has taken the matter to the High Court while seeking alternative payment methods.

    23 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 April

  1. Minister blocks funds to Kunene Regional Council over chief officer dispute

    Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.

    20 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. PM calls for land delivery to unlock Opuwo's economic potential

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has urged traditional authorities to make land available to local authorities, calling it central to development and a national imperative to unlock Opuwo's potential as an economic hub. Over N$812 000 was pledged at a trade fair fundraising gala dinner, with the 13th Opuwo Annual Trade Fair scheduled for April 20 to May 2, 2026.

    8 April 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 5 April

  1. Opuwo trade fair fundraiser raises N$812,620 for 2026 event

    A gala dinner in Opuwo raised N$812 620 in pledges for the 13th Annual Trade Fair, scheduled for April–May 2026. The event will feature horse racing, boxing, career fair, livestock forum, beauty pageant and music performances.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Kunene regional officer reflects on eighteen years serving community

    Rivonia Roswitha Roman, a control administrative officer at Kunene Regional Council since 2007, speaks about her career dedicated to community development and public service. Roman, who holds a business administration degree and pursues an honours qualification, credits her passion for serving her region and people as the driving force behind her work in housing programmes and regional engagement.

    2 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Khorixas councillor plans water infrastructure upgrade, economic revival

    Eddie Nanub, regional councillor for Khorixas, has outlined plans to address water scarcity through infrastructure upgrades and budget advocacy, while also prioritizing job creation, improved road connectivity, and youth skills training to revitalize the local economy and service delivery in the Kunene region.

    26 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 13 March

  1. UDF raises human-wildlife conflict and rural development concerns

    The United Democratic Front highlighted pressing challenges affecting communities in Kunene and northern regions during a consultative meeting with President Nandi-Ndaitwah, including human-wildlife conflict that is impoverishing rural households, a legal dispute involving the regional council, housing shortages, and educational inequality between rural and urban schools. The party noted that rural residents bear the costs of wildlife conservation while wild animals are regarded as national assets, and proposed dialogue-based solutions to ongoing disputes.

    13 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 2 March

  1. Kaoko Fria smart city project stalls amid regulatory rejection

    Namibia's Environment Ministry has denied authorising the Kaoko Fria Smart City project within Skeleton Coast National Park, citing conservation concerns, while the Kunene Regional Council says it was never consulted despite the company's recruitment drive in Windhoek. The company claims it has submitted environmental assessments and is seeking deproclamation of the park for the development.

    2 March 2026 · New Era →

Kunene Regional Council — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute