By: Annakleta Haikera
Residents of Thipanana and Rughongo villages say they feel betrayed and forgotten following claims that a long-anticipated rural electrification project meant for their communities has allegedly been redirected to other areas.
According to David Muronga, Chairperson of the Thipanana and Rughongo Village Development Committee, frustration has reached a boiling point after their formal request for electrification, submitted over a year ago, received no official response.
“We’ve waited patiently since independence, but our villages are still in total darkness. It’s like we don’t exist,” Muronga lamented.
“Now we hear that the infrastructure meant for us is being used to develop other places,” he added.
This is not the first time villagers say they’ve been overlooked.
Many residents say they are continuously sidelined when it comes to development, lacking not only electricity but also access to clean water, proper roads, and essential health services.
“We have become used to empty promises,” said one elder from Rughongo.
“How long will our children study using candles and firewood? We are tired.”
Community members further accuse local leadership, particularly Mukwe Constituency Councillor Damian Maghambayi, of failing to provide transparency regarding project implementation or timelines.
They also question why other villages seem to benefit faster despite government assurances that Thipanana and Rughongo would be prioritised.
In April 2025, NamPower officially handed over the electrification site to Together Electrical Services CC for a N$1.2 million project aimed at connecting villages such as Kapako, Diyana, Rughongo, and Thipanana, to target those left in the dark since independence.
However, residents claim progress is barely visible and only a handful of households have been connected.
“We’re not asking for miracles. We just want what was promised, what we deserve like every other Namibian,” Muronga stressed.
In response, Councillor Damian Maghambayi stated that the community electrification initiative is indeed underway, covering areas from Shadikongoro to Mukwe, despite what he described as attempts by certain individuals to discredit the process.
“There are people trying to instigate the community and undermine the work we are doing,” he said.
Maghambayi confirmed that a well-attended community meeting was held two weeks ago and clarified that funding constraints had affected the project rollout.
“We had to cut off some areas temporarily due to limited funds, but the rest will be covered in due time,” he explained.
He added that the contractor is already on site, materials have been delivered, and installation has started in some sections.
“There’s nothing more to say, the project is in progress, urging residents to support the work and avoid unnecessary tension,” Maghambayi concluded.
While the community continues to call for answers and equitable development, local authorities maintain that the project is progressing, albeit in phases.
