The Kavango West Regional Council says the N$50 million budget allocation for 2026/2027 is not sufficient for the council's operations. 

This was revealed by the council's chairperson, Fillipus Tenga, during a general staff meeting held at the council office park.

Kavango West Regional Council Chairperson Fillipus Tenga is concerned about the council's N$50 million allocation, saying it could hinder service delivery.

He said more than N$40 million of the allocation goes towards employees' salaries and other staff-related costs. 

"So, the Kavango West Regional Council has been allocated a government subsidy for operations, an amount of N$50 million, for the current financial year 2026/2027. Out of that fifty million, N$43 million is committed to personnel expenditure in the form of salaries, related to employee costs." 

Tenga said the limited funding could slow down development in the region, noting that, apart from employees' salaries, the council has other obligations to fulfil, including capital development projects and office-related expenses such as water, electricity, security services and travelling costs, among others. 

He is calling for increased funding, a review of how regional councils are funded, and the formal recognition of growth points as settlements to support development in the region.

"I therefore call on the central government to urgently review the funding model for the regional councils. Speed up the proclamation… of the identified growth points to settlements and village councils and provide necessary financial intervention that would enable the councils to execute their legal mandate effectively and efficiently. That is our call."

Tenga says the council's limited financial resources continue to place pressure on its ability to meet its obligations and drive development in the region.