Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo said she has observed poor attendance at national consultative meetings, urging office bearers and community members to take part.

She made the call during the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy consultative meeting at Nkurenkuru.

"I want to take a moment to express my disappointment to the regional leadership, particularly the regional councillors who chose to attend the wellness programme instead of participating in this consultation. Our CRO is here. Please note that if we, as regional leaders, do not prioritise correctly, we will undermine this government's good initiatives. I hope this is properly recorded and that the message is delivered clearly: we must prioritise."

Sinimbo emphasised the importance of local contributions to government plans, noting that decisions impact everyone either directly or indirectly. 

Sinimbo urged leaders to prioritise regional and national developments in their decision-making. 

The governor appreciated those who attended the meeting, highlighting the value of active participation in shaping the region's future.

The Kavango East Region also saw similar low attendance among regional leaders.