Windhoek
The year-old Ministry of Poverty and Eradication has made considerable progress to put pragmatic policies and structures in place to alleviate poverty across the country.
Measures are also being implemented to coordinate, advocate, implement, monitor and evaluating all State poverty eradication programmes and initiatives.
These include the completion of the Ministerial Statement of Intent, the facilitation of the National Dialogue on Wealth Redistribution and Poverty Eradication, and the drafting of a national blueprint on poverty reduction and to eradicate destitution.
Minister of Poverty and Eradication Bishop Zephania Kameeta said the ministry has managed to facilitate improved access to basic services and amenities, to strengthen social safety nets and promote sustainable employment.
Kameeta also announced that the ministry secured a plot for the construction of a food bank in Windhoek, completed its organisational structure and commenced collaborating with various stakeholders in the distribution of food to the poor and vulnerable.
A Ministerial Fund, where donations can be deposited towards the fight against poverty, was established and so far the Chinese Embassy and a local fishing company, Cavema Fishing, have reached out to this fund, by donating N$1.06 million in total.
Also, the ministry has secured satellite offices in the regions for effective distribution of social grants and the completion of a five-year strategic plan. Were some of the success highlighted by Kameeta.
He said, despite some progress, the ministry still experiences gross staff shortages, as the recruitment process appears to be highly cumbersome and an impediment to the urgent mandate of the ministry.