Community engagement campaign concludes in Kavango West

NKURENKURU, 24 AUG (NAMPA) - The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, in collaboration with the Health Directorate, Land Reform Division, and police officials in Kavango West, concluded a week-long community engagement campaign across nine villages in the region.
The campaign, which ran between 18 and 22 August, focused on health awareness, illegal fencing, and legal processes in resolving disputes.
The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, malaria prevention, and the importance of seeking medical help early. It also focused on land disputes, which served as an eye-opener for many community members.
On health concerns, residents raised concerns about limited access to mosquito nets, lack of indoor spraying, and the long distances travelled to access health facilities.
Johannes Siranda, Risk Communication Community Engagement Officer for Kavango West Region, said the HPV vaccine is a new vaccine introduced at state clinics and “Based on the questions they asked after the presentations, you can see that they have gained knowledge, and still want to know more."
He added that while the visited communities showed understanding, more communities still need the awareness, so they all speak the same language, and do not get misinformed.
Land disputes dominated discussions, particularly in Ncuncuni, Ncamagoro, and Mpungu constituencies, while fewer complaints were raised in Mankumpi and Tondoro constituencies.
Many community members felt the information came too late, as illegal fences had already been erected.
Orestus Shimooshili, Chief Development Planner from the Land Reform Division, raised a concern, saying the people who are supposed to protect the communities and their land at the village level are, at times implicated in land disputes.
He warned against the unauthorised fencing on communal land, stating that violators would be required to remove illegal fences within 30 days after investigations.
Shimooshili advised that complaints should be made in writing through traditional authority channels, as "that's where the allocation is done primarily."
"The fencing materials would be taken to the Ministry of Works, which is the custodian of assets, and these materials are usually sold so the government recovers the money," Shimooshili explained.
(NAMPA)
JLN/EK