Namibia: Marginalised Table Demands On VP's Desk

What the report says

Marginalised communities in Otjumuru, in Namibia’s Kunene region, used a visit by Vice President Lucia Witbooi to press the government for more development-oriented support, especially agriculture and livestock projects. According to New Era, residents said such initiatives would help them grow food, create work for young people and make the label of “marginalised” more meaningful than food aid alone.

Witbooi visited several marginalised community centres in Kunene last week to hear concerns and assess conditions, accompanied by senior officials from her office and regional governor Vipuakuje Muharukua. Community members raised a range of problems, including saline borehole water, poor roads, long distances to government offices, limited employment opportunities and gaps in funding for some institutions.

During the meetings, residents called for agricultural support, livestock farming projects, transport for schoolchildren and upgrades to the Opuwo-Okanguati road. They also said some children are unable to study at certain institutions because those schools are not funded. In response, Witbooi said she would take the concerns back to her office and urged parents to prioritise education and keep girls in school. She also said she wants more professionals from marginalised communities. Deputy director Rebekka Namwandi added that the government does not fund some institutions because they are not accredited, and said transport shortages remain a challenge. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over how Namibia supports remote and historically disadvantaged communities, especially around livelihoods, education and basic services.