Windhoek
The Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Reverend Zephania Kameeta, has warned shebeen owners who give senior citizens alcohol on credit and take their money when they receive their grants, to stop doing so.
He said this heartless practice puts the senior citizens’ health and financial well-being at risk.
In an interview with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) this week, Dr Zephania Kameeta said it is a disgrace that some members of the society prey on senior citizens and other beneficiaries of social grants for their own selfish benefit.
He was referring to the concerns raised in some parts of the country that some shebeen owners put the elderly in debt by offering them alcohol on credit and then claim their monthly social grants.
Some shebeen owners even reportedly retain senior citizens’ pension cards in exchange for alcohol and escort the elders to the pay points to get back what they are owed.
This, the minister said, pushes the grant beneficiaries into more abject poverty as in most cases they have no money left for nourishment and other needs. “This situation is very dangerous and cannot be condoned,” he warned.
Kameeta further warned family members of senior citizens not to abuse and exploit them. This, he said, deprives them of their rights as senior citizens to enjoy what is rightlly provided to them by government for their sunset years.
The minister said some family members of senior citizens beat them up for their money to feed their drinking habits. “Some grandchildren beat up their grandparents for their money. This is a disgrace to the nation.”.
Kameeta said it is uncalled for that some family members further burden the elderly with the responsibility of taking care of their children. He said this strains them financially, physically and emotionally.
He said as much as children are a joy to families including grandparents, young people should not just irresponsibly make babies that they themselves are unable to take care of.
The poverty eradication minister also cautioned grant beneficiaries not to abuse their grants as it is a precious gift from government meant for their own protection.
Kameeta said the misuse of government social grants poses a threat to the beneficiaries’ health and well-being instead of helping to eradicate poverty.
The minister said this ahead of the start of the social grant increase, to be implemented from next month.
The beneficiaries will each receive N$1 000 per month starting from August this year and a one-off amount of N$1 600 as backpay from April.
During his first cabinet meeting in March this year, President Hage Geingob announced the increase in social grants for pensioners from N$600 to N$1 000 a month as part of his war against poverty in the country.
Namibia is one of three African countries that provide social grants to elderly citizens in southern Africa, others being South Africa and Botswana.