Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila applauded the positive improvements in the agricultural sector in the Kavango West region.

Dr Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said this at the 36th independence celebration at Nkurenkuru.

"These efforts form part of a broader national strategy to transition agriculture from subsistence to commercially viable systems. The Musese Green Scheme has delivered remarkable results, generating N$28.5 million from 4,200 tonnes of maize, a testament to what coordinated investment and effective management can achieve. In 2024, the government invested approximately N$7 million into the Sikondo Green Scheme for new tractors and implements, and all state-managed schemes are now operational across the country, with both winter and summer crops flourishing. We call on Musese and Sikondo to continue diversifying into other crops and vegetable production, to grow the region's agricultural footprint further."

Kavango West's Governor Verna Sinimbo says, "As the Kavango West Region, we are proud contributors to this national journey. Our people are hard-working. Our youth are ambitious. Our communities are determined. Kavango West Region is rising, and it is rising with purpose. Yet, as we celebrate, we must also reflect. Independence is a continuous responsibility. It demands that we confront poverty, unemployment and inequality with the same courage that our forefathers confronted colonialism. Because the true measure of independence lies not only in political freedom but also in economic empowerment, social justice and inclusive development."