Residents of Kongola in the Zambezi Region said their area has been forgotten with no tangible development, 17 years after it was proclaimed as a settlement.

At a meeting, the Sifanu Sub-Khuta of Kongola appealed to the government to address the delay in development at the settlement.

The sub-khuta claims that the area, despite being the entry point to the rest of Namibia, is still lagging behind in terms of socio-economic progression.

Secretary to the sub-khuta, Rector Kapelwa, stressed that just as many residents there also contributed to the liberation struggle for Namibia's freedom.

"Before Angola became independent in the late 1970s and Zambia granted us asylum, Kongola became the battleground where our communities joined the PLAN fighters to get rid of SADF soldiers that were stationed at Kamenga in 1969."

Kapelwa said that, despite a number of infrastructures that have been built over the years, the settlement, which is 111 kilometres from Katima Mulilo, has not been f

ormalised.

Residents want a district hospital or health centre; they say the current clinic is small and has limited services.

The community also appealed for a periodic court, at least to reduce government spending on transporting trial-awaiting inmates from the Manias Brian Libuto Police Station to Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court.

The residents further requested a civil registration office, a NATIS office and a vocational training centre.

Induna Bornface Kambwene of Kayuwo Village in Kongola said he fears the land that was allocated for development will be taken back by the owners, as it has been lying idle. 

"Residents of Kayuwo willingly gave out their land to the government for them to develop it. They thought the government would do something productive, and they could potentially receive jobs from it; unfortunately, the government has not done anything with the land thus far. Now they have come back to me, their parent, asking for advice."

One of the village headmen at Kongola, Patrick Munembo, expressed disappointment at how the government has prioritised other government offices over a district hospital.

"When we went to the Ministry of Health to look for answers as to why the district hospital is not being built, we were told that they are still waiting for the town to be serviced; however, we are failing to believe them because in this very town there are government offices that already exist. Why didn't they wait for the town to receive services before building those offices?"

Approached for comment, Zambezi Health Director Woita Kapumburu said it was decided, under the leadership of former health minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, that a health centre would be constructed at Kongola.