The Namibian Government has made a wonderful gesture by introducing various social grants to support its key population.
These grants are: Vulnerable grant (VG N$350), Disability grant (N$1600), Orphan grant (N$350), Grant for children of persons with disabilities (N$350), Grant for children of pensioners N$350), as well as pensioners grant (N$1600). These grants are indeed the game changers in alleviating poverty in Namibia, a truly well-calculated strategy by the Government for its needy people. On the other hand, it is vital to make provision for the children of pensioners and those of parents with disabilities because those parents might not be mentally or physically fit to provide for their children; they are all given a green light to be automatic beneficiaries. People with disabilities working in institutions and their children under 18 now qualify for monthly payments, a significant government milestone. However, many question the new VG criteria, which aim to reduce child poverty but may penalise unemployed youth dependents. Previously, grants were given to children of parents who were either fully unemployed or employed, earning under N$1 500. Now, even non-working parents are excluded due to new rules. This move remains unpopular, but it’s good that children who benefited before the criteria change still receive money, which parents appreciate. However, beneficiaries will be automatically removed upon death or reaching 18 years old. Despite the vulnerable grant being deactivated, the public longs for its return, as it did not consider the economic hardships faced by parents. An unbothered VG could help children maintain balance and prevent suffering from hunger in a middle-income country. where “we are few to be poor & money is there”.
For God-sake, awarding VG to already stressful unemployment parents will empower them to feed their children with less, and by prolonging the fully return of this grant will be in conflict with the rights of the affected children by depriving them a chance to enjoy what other children are enjoying and at the same time threatening their equality status as well as promoting issues related to accessing health care, early education and balance meal. Moreover, many Social Workers’ situation analyses across the country are labelled as biased and unsatisfactory because many children aren’t rescued from suffering, risking malnutrition and becoming street beggars. It’s sad to see parents, carers, or Samaritans approach Councillors’ Offices for help, often with no results.
The government must look deeper into its funds to fully support vulnerable groups. Young mothers, the primary caregivers for their children, are negatively impacted, especially when their partners fail to provide for themselves or their children. Sadly, some parents’ whereabouts are not even known, a situation that is exposing multiple children to daily poverty.
People do ask, why did the Government opt to offer a grant to pensioners’ children and children of parents with disabilities?
Is that not a double benefit? Another fault is the orphan grant, which is only automatic when both parents are no longer living, but not when a surviving parent earns more than N$1 600.
Is N$1 600 enough for a parent with two or more children, including their own needs? One may view the criteria as contradicting the Government’s efforts to enforce childcare and protection.
Typically, when these criteria are questioned, the response is that giving all children aid will make parents lazy, which is poor reasoning likely guiding policy.
The focus should be on children’s well-being, unless the parent has a stable job to support them. Granting aid to all children should be a key government issue to help many innocent children avoid suffering.
Lastly, the Government, through the responsible Ministry, must re-consult with political leaders, community leaders, social workers, and the custodians of all children to make informed decisions and implement everlasting remedies that will benefit all children on equal terms.
*Tobias Nanhinda in an independent activist & a Librarian at the Ministry of Gender. The views in this article are merely his: nanhix7@gmail.com