Drought-stricken Otjozondjupa residents, especially those situated in remote areas of the region, are yet to benefit from government’s drought relief food rollout programme. 

This is because the region currently has only one truck to distribute the food. 

This came to light during deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa’s recent visit to the region, where he met with the region’s leadership, including governor James Uerikua and the chairperson of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council Marlayn Mbakera, as well as numerous constituency councillors.  

Mutorwa did not hide his frustration with the lacklustre pace at which the region is carrying out its drought relief food programme, saying people are in dire need, and have been waiting for months to receive their food, but to no avail. 

During the meeting with the regional leadership, a clearly disappointed Mutorwa could not understand why the region has not yet advertised to attract and contract suitable trucks from willing members of the public to deliver the drought relief food. 

“I think it’s very simple… to those who have got these types of trucks, we are saying if you are interested, we want to get our food from here to there. And then people will come, and you inspect the truck, and see which trucks can deliver the goods to the people. What’s the problem? I don’t see where the problem is, seriously. We must advertise, and tell people we need trucks to hire for this thing [drought food rollout]. Or maybe for this region, we might need to approach the army for assistance,” he said. 

Otjozondjupa’s warehouse for drought relief food parcels and related goods is in Otavi, and remains almost fully-packed with undistributed food parcels, months after the president had declared a state of emergency. 

Regional governor Uerikua took issue with the lack of seriousness from administrators at regional and constituency levels. 

He said a state of emergency on drought was declared by the president – and therefore, all administrators and institutions should adjust their attitudes.  “When you look at their proactiveness, in terms of them aligning with the seriousness of the issue at hand, I think all institutions need to know and understand that we are adjusting from operating under these regulations [normal] and are now operating under these ones [emergency]. A state of emergency has been declared,” he stated. 

 His message seemed to be directed to the constituency councillors in attendance.

Regional council chairperson Mbakera called on truck owners to come forth and express their interest in wanting to distribute drought relief food, and demonstrate the roadworthiness of their trucks. 

“We will then agree that is the rate that we are paying you – and if you are interested, come to us with your registration documents for your trucks. We don’t need Section 50 to apply in this instance because we are not procuring normal services as per the Procurement Act. This is an emergency process that are we facing as a region – and that is why we will only ask you for the registration documents of your trucks,” she said. 

Earlier this year, President Nangolo Mbumba declared a state of emergency on drought. 

This decision was informed by a government-initiated drought assessment, which established that about 331 000 households needed to be registered countrywide to receive drought-relief food aid. A Cabinet decision, which is in line with Mbumba’s declaration, made provision for a budget of N$825 million to distribute N$600 million worth of food aid until 30 June 2025, and N$100 million for livestock and water supply, as well as N$25 million for seed and other agronomic and horticulture needs until 31 March 2025. -ohembapu@nepc.com.na