• By Patience Makwele

The Mayeyi community in the Zambezi region says it continues to be left out of the country’s national development agenda despite years of voicing concerns over poor infrastructure and limited access to basic services in their area. In remote villages like Lyanshulu, residents are forced to walk long distances or depend on hitchhiking to access the only clinic in the Sangwali area. 

This clinic also serves as the administrative centre of the Judea Lyaboloma constituency and caters for an entire cluster of other isolated settlements.  The community members also claim that teacher shortages, lack of ablution facilities, school libraries, science laboratories, and computer labs, to inadequate accommodation for both learners and teachers and proper halls are also some of the issues affecting the region.  

Furthermore, it is said that the roads in the area are depilated and not fit for human transportation while electricity disruptions remain a major concern to the community.    Beyond the classroom, community members cite high unemployment, teenage pregnancy, damaged road infrastructure, and the lack of retail shops as everyday struggles.
The Mayeyi Traditional Authority Spokesperson Shifu Jeke, confirmed the challenges faced by the community, stressing that that they had reached out to the government, but with little response so far.  

“We would like to see educational facilities built so our youth can have better access to learning. For example, a computer lab will equip our people with essential digital skills that can help secure employment. We also believe building such infrastructure will create local job opportunities,” explained Jeke. 

Regarding the healthcare to Mayeyi community, Jeke said: “We are proposing that Lyanshulu should have its own clinic, just like Malengalenga. Our people are tired of walking and travelling long distances for basic medical attention. “Water remains a critical issue as well. Some schools are drinking salty water, which is not good at all,” he added. “We are now actively looking for land to accommodate [a service station along with a retail shop]. We are hopeful that the new ministers will come on board. The authorities and the Indunas (chiefs) are planning to meet and tackle these issues together.”

HOPE DEFERRED
The community members however, are placing hope on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Member of Parliament, Austin Samupwa, who happens to hail from the Mayeyi area.  In his response, Samupwa, dismissed allegations that development in the area is slow due to tribal politics and that the Mayeyi people cannot complain about being excluded. 

“Maybe we can complain about an issue of water, because the pipeline stopped at Kapani. [And it] needs to be extended but not for the Mayeyi people alone. It will benefit everybody along that line, including the Mbukushu and Mafwe communities,” he maintained. 

According to Samupwa, his role in parliament is not to represent a specific tribe, but all Namibians.  “I am not in parliament as a member of the Mayeyi, but as a Member of Parliament representing Namibia. That must be very clear,” he cautioned.
Recently, Samupwa said he raised several issues in Parliament around rural development, water access, housing, sanitation, education, and access to justice. 

“I have pushed for quality education, sanitation in rural areas, housing, and I am still pushing for youth employment not for a specific tribe, but across the whole country.”

However, he added that he has advocated for the expansion of judicial services, including a magistrate’s office in Sangwali and registrar offices in Kongola and other remote areas.  “I am also still pushing on the judiciary to be accessible in various areas, that I mentioned in my speeches, I am also pushing on youth employment in the whole country.”