The director of rural water supply in the Kavango West region, Richard Shikongo, fears misalignment between budget allocations and annual work plans undermines public confidence in service delivery.
In an interview with NBC News, Shikongo said that water is an essential need that cannot be substituted.
However, water scarcity still persists in the Kavango West region despite the ministry's efforts.
Shikongo explained that the Directorate of Rural Water Supply facilitates the identification of community needs, but meeting community expectations depends on the annual budget allocated to the region.
"Overall, the whole budget with regard to the development vests with the ministry. The ministry is the one that tells you, 'This is what you will be able to implement based on the figures that you have; send us needs that should be.' Because, mind you, even the ministry is required to come up with a procurement plan, an annual procurement plan, an APP, which is also submitted to the policy unit."
Shikongo further added that most procurement processes, tender awards, and contract management are administered at the head office.
He emphasised that while plans are in place to meet public demand, the major challenge remains the insufficient capital for developmental projects.
"The region can say to me, 'We are not accepting you to plan to implement maybe two boreholes or install or rehabilitate one borehole. What I'm doing is informed by the resources, and also under the PMS, performance management, I'm expected to enter into an agreement with my principals, with my supervisors, to say this is what I'm going to do and this is what I'm going to implement. How do you expect me to say I'm going to drill six boreholes when the provision of resources that I have, which has been indicated to me, is, for instance, only able to drill maybe one or two? So in my performance agreement, I can't overcommit myself to things that I do not have resources for."
Shikongo added that for the ministry to address water shortage in the region, at least two boreholes should be drilled in all eight constituencies per financial year.
For the 2026/2027 financial year, the directorate received N$1.5 million for developmental projects.
Shikongo urged regional leadership and community members to be patient with his office.