Community members in the Kabbe North Constituency have raised concerns over various development and service delivery challenges, calling for government intervention to improve livelihoods.
Key issues include the state of Katima Mulilo Hospital, the future of the Kalimbeza Rice Project, agricultural support and cattle marketing.
Community members called for the urgent upgrading of Katima Mulilo Hospital to a standard comparable to Intermediate Hospital Rundu, citing concerns over patients losing their lives while being transferred 524 kilometres to Rundu for specialised medical attention.
The National Council delegation, currently conducting an outreach programme in the region, was urged to send its health committee to assess the hospital's challenges firsthand.
The National Council's Agriculture Committee has been urged to investigate the struggling Kalimbeza Rice Project. Once a thriving national initiative under former President Hifikepunye Pohamba that employed hundreds of local residents, the project's productivity has severely deteriorated.
"But when you look at the progress of this farm, it leaves much to be desired, and I know, even our current president, Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is not happy. I want to emphasise this: she's not happy about the progress of this farm," said
Kabbe North Constituency resident, Dr. Albert Kawana.
Limited markets for crop farmers, a shortage of extension officers and difficulties accessing reliable cattle markets, particularly for farmers north of the veterinary cordon fence, were also raised.
"Either MeatCo must come back, or those who were supposed to take over from MeatCo have failed as far as I'm concerned," stressed Dr. Kawana.
Another resident Mubiana Masilingi Resident: Kabbe North Constituency added, "But now we only receive tractors after they plough at another centre and so on, so at the end of the day we delay and end up ploughing very late, and we are from the flood plains."
The meeting further highlighted the threat of drought and prolonged high temperatures, with calls for government to introduce food-for-work and cash-for-work programmes to support vulnerable communities.
Cattle theft across the Zambezi River was another concern, with community members calling for increased surveillance.
"We really ask if the council can help us, at least to get for us a speedboat, a patrol boat which will cover this river because most of our cattle are not taken through the dry land, but they just only go through the river to Zambia," pleaded resident Patric Kawana.
Other concerns included land ownership and registration disputes, as well as poor network connectivity in multiple parts of the region.
Meanwhile, local fishermen called for a bilateral agreement between Namibia and Zambia to harmonise fishing regulations.
They say fishing nets purchased in Zambia are considered illegal in Namibia, resulting in the confiscation of fish and destruction of nets, while fishermen across the river continue using similar nets without facing the same restrictions.