Verna Sinimbo

Also known as: Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo

Governor of Kavango West, advocating for year-round food production and commercial agricultural development in the region.

2026-02-152026-10-06

What’s been said

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

March 2026
6 MarNew Era
Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo said persistence alone will not move Mpungu fish farm from 1-3 tonnes back to 20-tonne design capacity
Source
“Persistence alone will not move the Mpungu fish farm from 1-3 tonnes back to its 20-tonne design.”
Mpungu fish farm’s struggles
February 2026
15 FebThe Namibian
Governor Verna Sinimbo called for year-round food production
Source
“Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo on Friday during a meeting with the agriculture ministry called for year-round food production.”
Kavango West visit spotlights push for year-round food production
15 FebThe Namibian
Sinimbo advocated for development of additional inland fish ponds and a second large-scale green scheme
Source
“Sinimbo further advocated for the development of additional inland fish ponds and a second large-scale green scheme to address food insecurity and unemployment.”
Kavango West visit spotlights push for year-round food production

Society

Kavango West health directorate spends millions yearly on office rent

The News

Kavango West health director Fransiska Hamutenya says the directorate spends between N$2 million and N$3 million annually on office rentals, with no budget allocation in the current year for a permanent regional office despite urgent infrastructure needs. The regional and district teams are accommodated at high cost in rented space at the Matukuchila complex, while the region also lacks a proper district hospital and has infrastructure backlogs.

6 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 6 September

Kavango West health directorate spends millions yearly on office rent
Kavango West health director Fransiska Hamutenya says the directorate spends between N$2 million and N$3 million annually on office rentals, with no budget allocation in the current year for a permanent regional office despite urgent infrastructure needs. The regional and district teams are accommodated at high cost in rented space at the Matukuchila complex, while the region also lacks a proper district hospital and has infrastructure backlogs.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 25 August

NamPost opens Nkurenkuru branch, donates ICT equipment to Kavango West
NamPost officially opened its Nkurenkuru Post Office in Kavango West, one of 12 additional service points that brings the institution's total service points nationwide to 148. The postal operator also donated computers, printers and mobile internet subscriptions valued at N$250,000 to community learning centres and libraries in the region.
25 August 2026 · New Era →

Monday 24 August

NamPost opens Nkurenkuru office, donates ICT gear to communities
NamPost opened a post office in Nkurenkuru and donated Information and Communication Technology equipment to two community centres in Kavango West to expand access to financial and digital services for rural residents. Minister Emma Theofelus said the move aligns with government's commitment to financial inclusion and the goal of leaving no one behind, noting that financial inclusion rose from 78% in 2017 to 86% in 2025, though rural areas lag at 79.3% compared to 91.7% in urban areas.
24 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 8 August

Child welfare minister warns against neglecting boys
Minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantema said Namibia cannot afford to leave boys behind, and that investing in boys leads to stronger families, safer communities and a brighter future for the country. She was speaking at an engagement session in Nkurenkuru themed on empowering the boy child and creating responsible men.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 24 June

Nineteen-year-old Maria Kanyanga wins double Southern African title
Maria Kanyanga, a 19-year-old from Kavango West, won gold medals in the women's under-20 800 metres and 1 500 metres at the Southern African Countries Athletics Championships in Mauritius, representing Namibia at the regional event.
24 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 23 June

NQA warns ministries against evaluating qualifications independently
The Namibia Qualifications Authority has instructed ministries not to evaluate qualifications, asserting that qualification evaluation is its legal mandate. The government is rolling out a national policy on qualifications standards approved by Cabinet in November 2025, aimed at standardising curriculum content and entry requirements across institutions to address inconsistencies in education.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 14 June

Kavango West maternity ward nears completion with Development Bank support
The governor of Kavango West announced that construction of the Rupara Maternity Ward is nearing completion with N$1 million support from the Development Bank of Namibia. The facility is expected to improve maternal and childcare services and reduce maternal and infant health risks in surrounding communities.
14 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 8 June

Nkurenkuru Expo gala dinner raises N$600,500
The seventh Nkurenkuru Expo gala dinner raised N$600,500 on Saturday to support the event running from 24 July to 2 August under the theme 'Empowering Economic Growth and Celebrating Heritage'. Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba said the funds would help position the expo as a platform for jobs and business opportunities while respecting local traditions and heritage.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 29 May

President says development must not erase cultural identity
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.
29 May 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 28 April

NAB pledges fruit tree seedlings to Kavango West project
The Namibian Agronomic Board pledged fruit tree seedlings worth N$100,000 to support Kavango West's 'Tapeka, Lima, Tulye' project, which aims to provide each household in the region with at least two fruit trees to boost food security and nutrition. The initiative combines household distribution with community and school-based planting to build agricultural skills.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 March

Kavango West builds sports facilities in two constituencies
Two constituencies in Kavango West region are set to benefit from new sports facilities under a N$10 million construction project, as part of the region's youth empowerment initiatives aligned with Namibia's Vision 2030. The projects, which also include boreholes for water provision, will create opportunities for local businesses and are being constructed by the Rundu Vocational Training Centre.
17 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 6 March

Mpungu fish farm far below capacity despite N$30 million investment
The Mpungu fish farm in Kavango West, designed to produce 20 metric tonnes annually, has never exceeded five tonnes per year due to slow-growing native tilapia species, poor pond drainage, inadequate temperature conditions, and insufficient funding for repairs. Officials say overcoming the shortfall will require decisions on funding, management, and science that have been delayed.
6 March 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 26 February

Kavango West leaders frustrated by Nored power outages
Kavango West leaders have accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to provide reliable electricity to the region, citing constant power cuts and slow restoration times. The criticism came during a stakeholder engagement hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, where local officials and businesses, including telecommunications operators and a tourism lodge, expressed concern about the outages and their economic impact.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 15 February

Kavango West governor pushes year-round food production expansion
Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo met with the agriculture ministry to advocate for year-round food production, calling for aggregation, value addition, and commercial agricultural development to replace subsistence farming and address food insecurity. Deputy minister Ruthy Masake urged young people and cooperatives to leverage the region's water and fertile soil through irrigation, aquaculture, and agro-processing rather than working in isolation.
15 February 2026 · The Namibian →