Kavango West Regional Governor Sirkka Ausiku is happy that several capital projects are progressing well after interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.

Ausiku, however, noted that many residents still walk long distances to access basic services.

The region received a N$200 million allocation for the completion of 33 ongoing and envisaged capital projects this financial year.

Among others, the Ministry of Sport, Youth, and National Services has budgeted N$10 million for the development of sports facilities.

She was happy that the Nkurenkuru District Hospital project is back on the Ministry of Health and Social Services' plans.

Ausiku is happy that many government ministries and agencies are now rendering basic services in Nkurenkuru, the region's capital.

"I am also happy to report that the Ministries of Industrialization and Trade, as well as GIPF and Nored, are the latest to open their offices in Nkurenkuru. In the same vein, I am reminding the Ministry of Justice and other government agencies like SSC to follow them."

The ongoing construction of the Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre will add to the number of institutions of higher learning.

She called on the Central Procurement Board of Namibia to train young people in tendering processes so they could participate in capital project development.

Ausiku wants local participation in the tender system for regional and national projects.

"We continue to implement projects, namely the regional government office park, which has an amount of $40 million allocated this financial year; the Rupara Development Centre, which has $10 million allocated this financial year; and services at Katwitwi, which has an amount of $1.4 million allocated this current financial year. The council also continues to implement rural development programmes, whereby 132 community projects were supported."

She says the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture has embarked on the construction of classrooms, ablution blocks, and hostels at several schools, projects that are ongoing.

Ausiku applauded the Roads Authority for the graveling of 48 kilometres of the first phase of the Charlie Cutline and the Ncaute-Karukuvisa road, which is underway.

She noted that a lack of feeder roads was a major challenge, as residents and farmers find it difficult to reach public services and markets, respectively.