The Kavango East Region has experienced a number of unfortunate incidents that have resulted in the loss of lives. Its Governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, highlighted some of those in his State of the Region Address.
It was an incident that shocked not only the region but also the entire country.
16 people belonging to one household all died after eating what was believed to be toxic porridge.
"Food poisoning has become one of our scariest sporadic concerns in the region, and many lives are sadly getting lost as a result. We have recently witnessed the Kayova 16 epic that shocked the whole nation. Every Namibian’s life is valuable, therefore, our deepest sympathy and empathy go to the bereaved families and friends."
Another tragedy is the reoccurrence of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
"12 people sustained injuries, while nine people lost their lives due to attacks by wild animals. An amount totaling N$180,000.00 was spent to assist the injured victims, and N$900,000.00 was spent to offset the losses suffered by the bereaved families."
A number of people in Kavango East still remain stateless, and Wakudumo says this is a serious concern that needs to be addressed.
We are cognizant of and remain vigilant about statelessness, which has reached an alarming rate in the region. The regional government will devise a mechanism to identify the cause and address the problem in consultation with the Cuando Cubango Province in Angola."
Electricity blackouts in Kavango East are another cause for concern.
"The challenge of an electricity blackout in our region is regrettable, an inconvenience to all of us, and disruptive to businesses. We must move with speed to end the nightmare of frequent blackouts or find a solution that will eliminate the blackout before people call for a declaration of a state of emergency on our energy. This is not a good story for our people; hence, a solution ought to be found."
The Governor admits that road networks are another area where the region is lagging behind.
Illegal fencing off of land and the incitement of tribalism are some of the practises giving the region a bad reputation, the Governor said.