Some of the issues related to service delivery in Rundu are in the process of being addressed.
Inadequate health services and poor road infrastructure are just some of the concerns residents have been voicing.
During Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare's visit to the Kavango East, regional leadership had the opportunity to give updates about what's happening on the ground.
When it comes to healthcare, most local residents are aware that the Rundu Intermediate Hospital is under pressure, catering to both the Zambezi and Kavango West regions.
Last year, a contractor was awarded a project to convert the old maternity ward into an ICU and dialysis centre, but it never got off the ground.
"The award was given to a contractor in February 2024. A duration was set until October 2024; however, the contractor failed to deliver on the project. Despite this, the contract was extended to the same contractor, resulting in a year without service delivery. What we are saying from here on forward is that the ministry must cancel that contract and assign it to a new person."
Plans to build an intermediate hospital in Kavango East are also making progress. What is currently referred to as the intermediate hospital is actually a district hospital.
"The Sambyu Traditional Authority has already allocated that land, and the legislative requirements have been met, which means that in due course, Rundu will have two hospitals, with the newer one located outside of Rundu. That, to me, is a plus."
The road infrastructure in Rundu is a headache for a number of motorists, and the Prime Minister says tarring roads should be a priority.
"Rundu is the second largest local authority in Namibia by population. As I understand, the tarred road in Rundu is less than 10% of that in Windhoek, so therefore, what we want from Rundu is to get at least 500 km of tarred road, which means the streets all over Rundu should be tarred. So 500 km is not too much to ask."
The Prime Minister also spoke about road construction projects in the region, which are not producing the desired progress.
"The Minister of Works has also dispatched a team that is with us here. They have taken note, so we want the road from Ndiyona to Djaradjara; the other one is Ndiyona to Shamaturu and then Divundu Muhembo. In respect of those roads, information was obtained, and it reached the PM that things are going well on those roads. The PM applauded and said it was a good thing, only to find out that it was not true. Progress is not going on. Therefore, progress must go there. I have given people two weeks in which I must get feedback on all those things."
The Prime Minister is on the ground as part of the government's strategic plan to ensure that there is compliance and accountability in terms of service delivery.