The governor of the Kavango West Region, Verna Sinimbo, has questioned whether census statistics are considered when allocating the regional budget. 

She made these remarks during the Regional Profile presentation at Nkurenkuru.

According to the 2023 census report, Kavango West is home to 123,266 inhabitants, with males making up 48.1 and females 51.8 per cent. 

The region has a predominantly young population, mainly between the ages of 0-14 and 15-34.

Kavango West topped the list with the highest unemployment rate at 52,8 percent

Sinimbo stated that the data provides the evidence needed to plan better and allocate resources more efficiently.

"I always see a mismatch of reality that statistics present to us as a country. And when it comes to resource allocation, I honestly need to make it very, very clear that I'm not convinced by these statistics, like this particular report that we have presented, with all its challenges that it presents to the Kavango West Region, but I'm sure their budget always is otherwise."

Sinimbo urged local leaders, stakeholders and the community at large to use the statistics to guide programmes that will grow the region.

"We need to see how we can, as stakeholders, still come together and understand this report better and see how we can. It can help us to plan. This is not just a report that we have to keep in our offices, but it must serve as a tool to help us to plan. We will do our work as leaders. We need to lobby for resources to come, to come and support this outcome in this report."

Of the eight constituencies forming up Kavango West, Kapako constituency is reported to have the largest population with 27,823 inhabitants, while Mankumpi constituency has the lowest, 6,910.