Minister Steenkamp Visits Shambyu Traditional Authority to Strengthen Agricultural Collaboration

Minister Steenkamp Visits Shambyu Traditional Authority to Strengthen Agricultural Collaboration. The Minister of MEIYSAC, Hon. Sanet L. Steenkamp, paid a courtesy visit to the Shambyu Traditional Authority on 22 August 2025, where she was received by Hompa Sofia Mundjembwe Kanyetu. The visit underscored the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships with traditional leadership in advancing agricultural development and food security.

During the engagement, Hompa Kanyetu expressed appreciation for the delegation’s visit and applauded the ministry’s efforts to prioritise revitalisation of agricultural facilities in the region. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, academic institutions, and traditional authorities in ensuring that rural communities benefit from agricultural investments.

The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, as well as the University of Namibia (UNAM). Their mission to the Kavango East Region forms part of a broader joint initiative aimed at assessing the condition of strategic agricultural facilities and identifying opportunities to restore them to full operational capacity.

For the region, the revitalisation of such facilities is closely tied to the national food security agenda, with a focus on boosting local production and supporting rural livelihoods. The presence of UNAM in the delegation further highlights the role of research and academic expertise in developing innovative farming practices and strengthening agricultural value chains.

The visit also provided a platform to reaffirm the importance of aligning traditional leadership structures with national strategies, ensuring that development initiatives reflect local needs while contributing to broader policy goals.

As Namibia continues to prioritise sustainable agricultural development, engagements such as this one between government ministries, academic institutions, and traditional authorities are expected to play a crucial role in building stronger, self-reliant rural economies.