Kunene Regional Governor Marius Sheya has presented Vice President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah with a briefing note detailing the goals the Regional Council hopes to achieve.

These range from road upgrades to drought relief assistance and the proclamation of the villages of Kamanjab, Torra Bay, and Terrace Bay to municipalities.

The note was presented during Nandi-Ndaitwah's regional visit, which started at Outjo in the presence of cabinet ministers, regional and local authority councillors, and other stakeholders.

Vice President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah has inaugurated a 20-hectare crop and vegetable community garden in Outjo that is to be a key player in the agricultural sector in the Kunene Region, amidst the challenges of drought spells and food insecurity at household levels.

Initiated in August 2019, with the first production only taking place in January this year, the N$5 million-valued Harambe-Oyetu community garden will be operating on a commercial basis under the terms of the Green Scheme Policy.

Residents of Grootfontein's Kap en Bou settlement are calling on the municipality to fast-track the provision of water and electricity to their area.

Kap en bou started as a result of land grabbing in 2017, and the population has since grown over the years.

Inhabitants here get water from a nearby location, Blikkies Dorp, where they pay for it. A lack of electricity is another challenge.

With many learners battling to attain good results in science subjects at primary school levels, B2 Gold Namibia Mine has pledged to come up with initiatives to spark the science passion in learners.

It is for this reason that B2 Gold Namibia unveiled the Little Shop of Physics minibus at Otavi Primary School.

The Mobile Lab on Wheels science and physics initiative has been in operation since 2017 in all regions.

At Otavi, the school bus will be accessible to over 1,000 learners, with a greater focus on Grade 7.

Services have been fully restored at Mangetti Dune Health Centre in Tsumkwe Constituency following renovations.

The 24-hour centre also now has a doctor, a pharmacist, and a social worker. 

A budget of N$1 million was set aside to renovate the centre and bring all services to standard.

Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director, Gerbardo Timotheus, says the clinic was a military clinic before independence.

Obed Chabani (48), who is facing charges of possession and dealing in cannabis worth over N$300,000, has been remanded in custody following his appearance in the Outjo Magistrates' Court.

Chabani was nabbed on April 30, according to Kunene Crime Investigations Coordinator Deputy Commissioner Paavo Iyambo, while loading two big boxes in a vehicle.

Each box, Iyambo says, had 36 grammes of cannabis.

Chabani's arrest is one of many other successes the region has recorded through various operations.

A member of the OvaHerero Repatriation Day Committee, Johnathan Katjimune, says there is a need for the government to hastily inject into the development of Gam Settlement to meet the needs of the growing population.

Speaking to nbc News on the sidelines of OvaHerero Repatriation Day, Katjimune says with the imminent return of about 1,000 Namibian descendants from Botswana, the demand for services will outweigh the supply.

Katjimune says Gam is still challenged by a lack of grazing or farming land, housing, and education facilities that need intervention.

Tsumkwe Constituency Councillor Johannes Haufiku has called on the Office of the Prime Minister to combine the drought relief food aid and feeding programmes for marginalised communities in his area.

In an interview with nbc News, Haufiku says food parcels do not reach all intended beneficiaries, despite many households and individuals needing food aid.

According to Haufiku, households listed for the marginalised feeding programme receive food parcels quarterly but do not qualify for drought relief aid, which is distributed monthly through the constituency office. 

The Okakarara Town Council says it is making efforts to improve road infrastructure, sewerage, and water reticulation, as well as satisfy the demand for housing in the town.

Okakarara is situated a few kilometres east of the Waterberg Mountain in the Otjozondjupa Region and is home to just over 7,000 inhabitants. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the town, Ehrnst Katjiku, told nbc News that the council is operating on a shoestring budget. 

The council received N$1.3 million for road infrastructure maintenance for this financial year.

High rates of tuberculosis infection continue to be a huge concern in Tsumkwe Constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director Gerbardo Timotheus shared his concern during a meeting with Otjozondjupa Governor James Uarikua.
 
The health director with the United Nations Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is on a week-long visit in the region to assess programmes supported by CDC Namibia.