Paulina Ndalikokule
NamPost has expanded its footprint in Kavango West with the official opening of its Nkurenkuru Post Office and the handover of ICT equipment to Community Learning Development Centres (CLDC) and libraries in the region.
The post office was officially opened by ICT minister Emma Theofelus on Friday, who also presided over the handover of equipment to two Kantjinakatji and Nkurenkuru CLD centres in Kavango West.
The development forms part of NamPost’s efforts to expand access to financial, postal and digital services, particularly in rural communities.
The Nkurenkuru branch is one of 12 additional service points opened by NamPost, bringing the institution’s total number of service points nationwide to 148.
Through its Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, NamPost also donated computers, printers and mobile internet subscriptions valued at N$250 000 to the Kavango West Directorate of Education.
Theofelus said the opening of the branch and the provision of ICT equipment demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring that no Namibian is left behind in the country’s digital and economic transformation.
She said such a commitment should be reflected not only in policies but also in practical services that reach communities.
“The launch of this NamPost branch, together with the ICT equipment being handed over to the region’s libraries and community centres, is a practical demonstration of that commitment,” Theofelus said. She said NamPost, which has traditionally connected Namibians through postal services, is increasingly becoming a platform for service access, financial inclusion, digital convenience and economic participation.
The minister said the initiative is aligned with the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and the government’s commitment to inclusive growth.
“Our National Development Plan prioritises access to quality services, digital infrastructure and human capital development, particularly in regions where improved connectivity can unlock education, enterprise and public service delivery,” she said.
According to Theofelus, the provision of ICT equipment will help create community hubs where young people can acquire digital skills, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can access markets, and residents can access government services closer to home.
She said the government will continue working with regional authorities, traditional authorities and communities to ensure that such investments translate into tangible opportunities. Theofelus urged residents to safeguard the equipment and make use of it for training, learning and innovation.
“To the people of Kavango West, this investment belongs to you. Protect it, use it and make it work for your future,” she said.
She also encouraged residents to make use of the NamPost Nkurenkuru branch for postal, courier and financial services.
NamPost board chairperson Simeon Amunkete said the opening of the branch represents a strategic investment in financial access and demonstrates NamPost’s commitment to bringing essential services closer to Namibians.
He said the initiative was about more than opening a post office or launching a corporate social responsibility programme.
“Today’s event is about far more than opening a post office or the formal launch of the corporate social responsibility programme. It is about investing in people. It is about expanding opportunities,” Amunkete said. He said the expansion connects communities, particularly those in the regions, to services, information and economic opportunities that can improve their quality of life.
Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo said NamPost’s services help connect communities to the broader economy while bringing essential services closer to residents.
She highlighted the importance of reliable access to social grants for elderly beneficiaries in the region.
“For many elderly beneficiaries in Kavango West, the monthly old-age grant is more than an individual benefit. It is often the main source of income supporting an entire household, providing food, transport, medication and other basic necessities,” Sinimbo said.
She said any delay in receiving such payments can affect not only pensioners, but also children, grandchildren and other family members who depend on that income. In addition to expanding its physical service network, NamPost launched the My-NamPost Banking App, which allows customers to buy airtime and data bundles, pay for electricity and water, and send digitised PostPay money orders.
The developments are expected to improve access to financial and digital services while strengthening NamPost’s role in connecting communities to economic and technological opportunities.
*Paulina Ndalikokule is an information officer at the MICT Kavango West region.
