In the face of persistent poverty and unemployment, Kunene region stands at a defining crossroads. Despite the region’s wealth in natural resources, fertile lands, and rich cultural heritage, much of its potential remains untapped. 

It is time to shift from promise to progress. Aligned with the Swapo Party manifesto and the government’s broader commitment to job creation and sustainable development, Kunene must now embrace a bold, community-driven path rooted in enterprise, innovation and unity.

Unlocking wealth beneath our feet

Kunene’s mineral reserves and natural endowments are more than just symbols of latent potential, they are catalysts for economic and social transformation. 

Across the region, valuable deposits of minerals such as copper, lead, and semi-precious stones lie beneath the ground, waiting to be extracted in a responsible and community-focused manner. Small-scale mining presents a significant opportunity for local entrepreneurs to engage in formalised, sustainable operations that prioritize safety, environmental stewardship, and community profit retention.

With the right training, access to modern equipment, and government-backed support services, cooperative mining initiatives that directly benefit local households can be launched. These ventures must be inclusive and transparent, ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized groups are also empowered to participate meaningfully and beneficially. 

When managed effectively, each extracted mineral becomes more than a commodity — it becomes a foundation for financial independence, economic diversification, and local wealth generation.

Sowing agricultural innovation seeds

Parallel to mining, agriculture offers a path to prosperity that can nourish both people and the economy. Although our landscape faces climatic challenges, it however invites creativity and technological adaptation. The region’s farmers and herders have long demonstrated resilience, and with the right support, they can become pioneers of sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.

By leveraging government extension services, community-led cooperatives, and agricultural development programmes, traditional farming can evolve into a modern, resilient sector. This transformation begins with cultivating drought-resistant crops to ensure food security while also generating income. 

Crops such as sorghum, millet, and legumes that adapted to the arid environment, can be grown efficiently using water-conserving techniques like drip irrigation and conservation tillage.

Developing localized value chains, from production to processing and distribution, creates job opportunities at every level. From packaging and branding to transportation and marketing, agricultural products can serve as the foundation of rural enterprising. 

Livestock farming, too, holds enormous potential. Implementing modern techniques such as rotational grazing, strategic breeding, and improved animal care practices enhances productivity and opens new income streams. Poultry farming, due to its accessibility and low entry barriers, emerges as a particularly viable venture, capable of jump-starting household businesses and fostering grassroots enterprise.

Education: Cornerstone of sustainable growth

Resources and innovation alone are not enough —skills development is the cornerstone of lasting transformation. To truly unlock Kunene’s potential, we must invest in education tailored to our region’s strengths and future needs. 

This means establishing vocational training centres and tertiary institutions that offer training in mining, geology, agriculture, environmental sciences, tourism, and hospitality management.

These institutions must not only offer technical training but also promote entrepreneurial thinking, digital literacy, and leadership development. 

They will serve as incubators of talent, nurturing a generation of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs equipped to lead in their respective industries. 

Equally important is ensuring that young girls and women have access to these educational pathways, breaking down historical barriers and building a more inclusive economy.

By fostering a culture of learning and innovation, and by aligning education with the needs of our economy, we can ensure that Kunene’s future is shaped by home-grown leadership and vision. Partnerships with private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and international development agencies can help provide scholarships, internship opportunities, and mentorship programmes that further accelerate this transformation.

Tourism: Turning culture, nature into opportunity

Kunene’s breathtaking landscapes, dramatic escarpments, unique wildlife, and vibrant cultures make it one of Namibia’s most alluring yet underdeveloped tourism regions. With strategic development, tourism can become a powerful driver of inclusive economic growth. 

Unlike extractive industries, tourism is labour-intensive and has the ability to quickly create diverse employment opportunities for youth, women, artisans, guides, and hospitality workers.

Local entrepreneurs can capitalise on the global demand for authentic, eco-friendly travel experiences. 

From building eco-lodges that operate on sustainable principles to curating cultural experiences rooted in local traditions, the tourism sector allows communities to tell their stories and showcase their heritage while earning a living. 

Additionally, investing in infrastructure – roads, mobile connectivity, and visitor centres – will make the region more accessible and attractive to both domestic and international tourists.

To truly thrive, tourism development in Kunene must be community-led and inclusive. Government support in the form of tourism-friendly policies, streamlined licensing processes, and start-up incentives will go a long way in lowering the barriers for entry and inviting innovation in this dynamic sector.

Uniting for common purpose

The promise of prosperity in Kunene lies not in isolated efforts, but in a unified approach that weaves together mining, agriculture, education, and tourism into an integrated ecosystem of opportunity. 

When these sectors work in concert, supported by strategic government initiatives and private sector collaboration, they generate a ripple effect of empowerment and economic vitality.

But the true engine of transformation lies in the people themselves. It is through the passion, creativity, and resilience of our youth, farmers, miners, educators, and entrepreneurs that sustainable development will be realized. 

Each individual has a role to play — from the herder who adopts modern animal care practices to the artisan who sells handcrafted goods to tourists; from the student who excels in geological studies to the local guide who shares Kunene’s history with visitors.

Even the most complex challenges become surmountable when communities are united by purpose and driven by hope.

A future forged together

The journey to transform Kunene is a shared endeavour. Guided by the Swapo Party manifesto and fuelled by government commitment, we possess both the vision and the resources to succeed. Let us rise to the occasion – united in purpose, bold in action, and unwavering in hope. 

By embracing innovation, investing in our people, and building enterprises that reflect our values and aspirations, we can create a Kunene where every resource serves the people, and every opportunity is a steppingstone towards a brighter, self-sustaining future.

The time to act is now. The power to shape that future lies in our hands – and together, we will build a Kunene that thrives not only in potential but in progress, prosperity, and pride.

*Zened S. Sali is an entrepreneur.