… Nandi-Ndaitwah said development should never come at the expense of tradition and heritage. “One of the greatest mistakes any nation can make is to believe that development requires abandoning its identity,” she said at the official opening of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in …
Placido Hilukilwa DEVELOPMENT must not come at the expense of cultural identity, said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday at the official opening of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in Okongo Village, Ohangwena Region. …
Placido Hilukilwa THE cattle show segment of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival was suspended at the last minute on Wednesday after a stray buffalo with an unknown health status was spotted in the area. …
… Speaking at the 2026 Omaludi Agricultural Festival at Okongo on Wednesday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said festivals such as Omaludi play a critical role in preserving traditions while promoting agriculture, tourism and local economic growth. …
Staff Reporter THE dates set for the hosting of Okongo village’s annual Omaludi Agricultural Festival are still weeks away, but preparations have already reached an advanced stage, with a fundraising gala dinner held on Saturday. …
… This will be followed by Okongo Village Council’s Omaludi Agricultural Festival, from 25 to 30 May, and Oshakati’s Totem Expo from 29 May to 6 June. …
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not attend the official Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration held in Eenhana on Thursday, despite having been in the region the previous day for an agricultural festival. She released a statement reaffirming the government's commitment to continuing engagement with Germany on genocide, apology and reparations.
Why it matters
President's absence from official Genocide Remembrance Day event raises questions about executive commitment during a newly established national observance.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not attend the official Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration held in Eenhana on Thursday, despite having been in the region the previous day for an agricultural festival. She released a statement reaffirming the government's commitment to continuing engagement with Germany on genocide, apology and reparations.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for urgent investment in agriculture, rural development and youth participation in farming, emphasizing that economic transformation depends on modernising agriculture while preserving cultural identity. She said the Omaludi Agricultural Festival demonstrates how agriculture and tourism can work together to create economic opportunities for local communities.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the opening of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in Ohangwena that development must not come at the expense of cultural identity. She noted the festival boosts the local economy through accommodation, transport, and informal trade, and announced the government will focus on improving existing agricultural schemes rather than establishing new ones.
The cattle show segment of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival was suspended after a stray buffalo with unknown health status was spotted in the Okongo area. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease was too high, with the animal having moved through several villages in Okongo and Oshikunde constituencies since it was first spotted on 2 May.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the 2026 Omaludi Agricultural Festival that Namibia must pursue development without abandoning its cultural identity, noting that festivals promote agriculture, tourism and local economic growth while preserving traditions. She urged farmers in northern communal areas to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture through improved infrastructure, financing and market access.
The official opening ceremony of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in Okongo Village is underway, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the festival's patron, in attendance alongside dignitaries, exhibitors, and community members.
A fundraising gala dinner for Okongo village's 5th annual Omaludi Agricultural Festival raised N$465,700, with Hangala Foods pledging N$50,000. The festival, themed "Agriculture and Tourism for Sustainable Economic Growth," is scheduled for 25 to 30 May.
A series of trade expositions showcasing the Northern regions' culture and business potential are scheduled from April to June 2026, including the Ondangwa Trade and Industrial Expo, Okongo's Omaludi Agricultural Festival, and Oshakati's Totem Expo. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will deliver the keynote address at the Omaludi Agricultural Festival's fundraising gala dinner on 25 April.
Over three decades since independence, Ohangwena Region has shifted from a predominantly rural area with limited services to a more developed region with expanded schools, clinics, roads and communication networks. Regional leaders credit sustained government investment and community participation, though they acknowledge further development is needed to meet growing demands.
Jackson Muma, CEO of Okongo Village Council, discussed ongoing infrastructure and land delivery projects, including servicing 55 plots in Block 103 with N$5.6 million in funding, allocating 121 semi-serviced plots to the Shack Dwellers Federation, and developing an open market. Over the next five years, the council plans to position Okongo as an investment centre focusing on agriculture, tourism, and sports development, including construction of a 7-hectare sports field.