WINDHOEK– Exactly three months after South African president Jacob Zuma pledged N$100 million in drought relief aid the donation remains entangled in bureacratic red tape.
The N$100 million bogged down in bureaucratic red tape is meant to assist the thousands of Namibians affected by one of the most debilitating drought situations to occur in Namibia in recent memory. South African President, Jacob Zuma last year November, during his two-day state visit to Namibia, made the pledge of R100 million (N$100 million) in drought relief aid, which is yet to materialise in any form or shape. “We are still awaiting whatever will come from South Africa. The South African government has committed itself to support Namibia and it is a welcome commitment. We are waiting for such support and hopefully it will be forthcoming,” said Secretary to Cabinet, Frans Kapofi yesterday in an interview with New Era on the latest development regarding the long-awaited aid. Zuma was in the country to bolster political and economic relations between the two countries when he announced the pledge during a special session of the National Assembly. At the time, the South African leader said he had been briefed on the ongoing drought since his arrival in Namibia and decided to pledge N$100 million to assist Namibia in dealing with the emergency. “My delegation feels drought is the most depressing news in the country. We have also just emerged from drought in some parts of our country.
We have decided to make a humble donation of R100 million (N$100 million). As neighbours we are with you in whatever challenges you face,” Zuma had told the Namibian parliament in his special address in November last year. Namibia is a semi-arid and drought-prone country and has been in the throes of the worst drought in 30 years. Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab, on behalf of the Namibian nation at the time of the pledge also expressed profound gratitude for the donation. “We feel grateful not only for the assurance to assist us, but for your readiness to extend a helping hand to our people,” Gurirab had said. Approximately one third of Namibia’s entire population is now classified as food insecure as a result of the drought. Of these, close to 400 000 people are in need of urgent support, according to the government, which declared a national drought emergency on May 17 last year and launched an international appeal for aid to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
A prolonged dry season has resulted in widespread crop failure across the length and breadth of the country last year. The government estimates that the 2013 harvest will produce 42 percent less than the 2012 harvest. An estimated 4 000 livestock have also perished in the drought. The situation is particularly severe in the north-central regions, as well as the northeastern Zambezi Region. Namibia is considered the driest country in southern Africa. With not much rainfall predicted for the year, many farmers describe the drought as the worst in a generation. As the drought persists, more livestock continue to die in many parts of the country particularly in the Kunene, Oshana, Omusati and Omaheke regions.
By Albertina Nakale