Kavango East Region Chief Regional Officer Ludgela Nangura has highlighted that poverty eradication and livelihood projects require sustained funding to ensure their continued operation and impact on rural communities.

Nangura said this during the public hearing with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Poverty Eradication, Labour and Industrial Relations where the Council presented its response to observations made during the Committee's regional visit.

Nangura stated that continued operation of some projects means they cannot be assessed solely according to their initial funding year.

The committee member Lilian Lutuhezi questioned accountability over a regional development project in Rujanja, where construction materials reportedly remained unused for six years, deteriorating before the project could even get off the ground.

Lutuhezi has challenged regional authorities to explain the delays, identify those responsible and account for the apparent wastage of public resources.

"The rusted fencing and roofing sheets we found there are still fresh in my mind. Materials had been delivered, but six years later, the project had still not commenced. Who was responsible? What action was taken against those responsible for allowing public resources to go to waste? We are discussing public funds appropriated and transferred to the region to improve the lives of our people."

While commending the chief regional officer for the presentation, Lutuhezi reminded the Council that cooperation between the Ministry of Gender and the regional administration is essential to ensure projects deliver the intended benefits.

She also raised concerns about an earlier incident in which an official was allegedly threatened for providing information during the committee's oversight activities.