The Nkurenkuru Town Council has been allocated N$500 000 for the town’s development for the 2026/27 financial year.
This is down from N$600 000 the previous year.
Acting chief executive Magana Mukuve says the funding is earmarked mainly for basic services projects and design work, and remains far below what is needed to implement the planned projects.
Mukuve during the Kavango West regional political and technocrat leadership retreat at Swakopmund on Friday said the list of projects for 2026/27 is largely a “wish list” because the council has not yet secured full funding.
“What I’m going to present here is our wish, not necessarily that we have already acquired the funding,” he said.
Plans for the 2026/27 financial year include the construction of water, sewer, and road infrastructure in extension 2 and 3, phase 5, where work is already underway.
The estimated cost for this project is N$9.9 million.
Another ongoing project is phase 2 of the sewer infrastructure construction at MU extension 4, estimated at N$3.8 million.
Mukuve said the council is also planning the design and construction of modernised oxidation ponds, with a feasibility study and design now underway after the line ministry insisted that planning must be completed before construction funds can be released.
In addition, the council is preparing the design and construction of municipal services – sewer, water, roads and electricity – for another section of Nkurenkuru, with an estimated cost of N$53 million.
Mukuve said Nkurenkuru has a three‑year agreement with the Road Fund Administration, under which N$4.7 million was allocated in the current cycle for upgrading one of the town’s main roads.
“This time around, we were informed we must be strictly within that amount,” he said.
Mukuve warned that the town continues to face serious funding gaps for both operational and capital projects.
He said rapid urbanisation, unserviced extensions, old septic tanks and overflowing oxidation ponds are creating environmental and public health risks which the council cannot fully address with its current budget. – Nampa
