9 October 2008
Gobabis — The Omaheke Regional Emergency Management Unit (Oremu) will soon distribute drought relief food to the San community in the region.
The three-month programme will start during the course of this month and is expected to end in December 2008.
About 1 844 households registered with Oremu will benefit from 11 064 bags of maize meal and 11 064 bottles of cooking oil.
Each household will receive 25kg of maize meal, and 1,5 litres of cooking oil.
Speaking at the Oremu meeting on Tuesday, the Deputy Director for Rural Services in the Omaheke Regional Council, Karukirue Tjijenda, said the region received food consignments of 12 000 bags (each bag contains 12,5kg) of maize meal and 13 332 bottles (each bottle has 750ml) of cooking oil.
He said the region received the consignment according to the revised figures submitted ton the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
However, some regional councillors who were present claimed that the figures are far less than the number of San-speaking people living in their constituencies.
Otjombinde Councillor Jeremiah Ndjoze said that his constituency is the most populated area of San people, and he could not agree with only 172 households, which was registered in his constituency.
According to him, many households were not registered, as many areas in his constituency were not covered.
Two regional councillors for Otjinene and Aminuis Constituencies, Ezekiel Toromba and Erwin Uanguta, echoed the same sentiments.
Toromba said that it would be unfair if some San-speaking people do not receive food, while others do, and suggested that the programme be shortened by two months in order to cater for other San people, who did not yet register.
Otjinene recorded 186 households.
Uanguta said there are vulnerable San people in his constituency who were not registered, as some have become disabled or pregnant after the registration process.
About 147 households were registered in Aminuis.
However, Brave Tjizera of the Epukiro Constituency was happy with the recorded number of 367 households.
Regional Rural Development Planner Alfred Karabo informed the councillors that Oremu will re-assess the programme after the first distribution.
- Nampa
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