Members of the National Council (NC) requested that the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) equip Local Authorities (LA) and Regional Councils (RC) with adequate financial resources to enhance development in rural areas.

The ministry has been allocated a budget of N$1.9 billion.

Constituency councillors want to be consulted prior to budget allocations to make informed decisions that will effectively enhance service delivery and implement capital projects.

"In the current form, the ministry doesn't consult the original council when they are preparing their budget. They are just in the account they are just given. Therefore, they need to consult them."

"The Oshikoto Regional Council has submitted a budget of N$87 million or some capital project to be anticipated to be funded from our line ministry. But we only got an allocation of N$3 million."

"As much as we have national programmes, we only want to focus on localising certain growth at a Regional and Local Authority level."

"In the Oshikoto region, about 85% of the population is rural. And the programmes that we are envisioning to be strengthened in terms of the allocation are a very core that helps the community to be a resilient community towards disaster management and also helps the community for them to share a bigger picture in terms of development."

"The schools and the clinics in rural areas must have the same treatment as the schools in the cities."

"We are having about 57 local authorities and 121 constituencies. And all these people require land that is serviced with water, sewer and electricity. And I think the amount really needs to be looked at so that it can be increased."

"I understand the minister of Urban and Rural Development is the custodian of development. And the budget that is given to it is not sufficient. But in the future, maybe this budget will be looked at so that the development will take place."

"I propose that each of Namibia's 121 constituencies receive N$3 million annually for urgent local development needs."

"If the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development's budget is going to be decreased every year. That business and usually the vision of our president are not going to be realised in the rural areas."