Six Namibian traditional authorities each received N$715,000 in Otjiwarongo on 23 October 2026, bringing total disbursements to N$4.29 million aimed at improving service delivery in communal areas, according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to according to New Era Live.
The funds, channelled through the Namibia Traditional Authorities Trust (NTAT), come from profits generated by Oonani Investment Group and were handed over at a ceremony in Otjiwarongo. The beneficiaries span five regions: the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority in the Ohangwena region, the O!Kung authority in Tjozondjupa, the Nama-Damara authority in Kunene, the Shambyu authority in Kavango East, the Simon Kooper authority in Hardap, and the Masubia authority in Zambezi.
What the money is meant to fix
The grant programme targets a persistent gap in rural governance: traditional leaders who cannot reach their communities because they lack vehicles. Speaking at the handover, Fillemon Shuumbwa, senior headman of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, said the authorities are expected to assist residents in their development, attend to needs as they arise, and transport counsellors to their places of work.
He said traditional leaders need mobility to maintain order and to show their faces in the communities they govern. The funds are also meant to help leaders reach constituents who live far away, including those without identity documents and those without access to water.
Shuumbwa added that the authorities intend to continue supporting traditional leaders so they remain visible in their work. He urged recipients to use the money well and not to look elsewhere when their turn comes.
Transparency and accountability
The disbursement carries an explicit accountability clause. Shumbwa said the authorities have not yet seen more funding in the pipeline, but they intend to continue issuing grants so that trust and development grow together. Each authority, he said, must use its allocation properly and account for it, with a further disbursement expected around April.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who oversees the traditional leaders' forum, called for the money to be used for its intended purpose. She warned that she would follow up on how the funds are spent and that any misuse would be addressed.
A model for funding traditional governance
The NTAT mechanism is notable for its structure: rather than drawing directly on the state budget, it routes private investment profits into communal governance. Naikaku Ndilula, the designated spokesperson of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, welcomed the funding, saying it had been a long time since leaders received support of this kind.
Ndilula told the gathering that leaders have only one vehicle each, which ages and sometimes fails when they need to travel, leaving them stranded. He said other organisations should follow the example set by Oonani Investment Group so that government can be relieved of some of its burden.
Why this matters
The programme touches on two policy debates Namibia has wrestled with for years: the financing of traditional authorities and the delivery of basic services in remote areas. Traditional leaders administer land allocation, dispute resolution, and customary law for a large share of the rural population, yet many operate with minimal infrastructure.
By tying funding to an investment vehicle, the NTAT model offers a template that could, if replicated, reduce dependence on treasury allocations while creating a measurable link between private sector performance and communal service delivery.
FAQ
How much did each traditional authority receive?
Each of the six authorities received N$715,000, for a combined total of N$4.29 million.
Where does the money come from?
The funds come from profits earned by Oonani Investment Group and are distributed through the Namibia Traditional Authorities Trust.
Which authorities benefited?
The Oukwanyama, O!Kung, Nama-Damara, Shambyu, Simon Kooper, and Masubia traditional authorities, covering the Ohangwena, Tjozondjupa, Kunene, Kavango East, Hardap, and Zambezi regions.
Will there be more funding?
Organisers indicated a further disbursement is expected around April, and President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said she would monitor how the current grants are used.