Windhoek
The leadership of Khomasdal Constituency in Khomas Region on Saturday convened a meeting with residents of 8ste Laan to hear their views on the planned food bank.
The leadership was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, I-Ben Nashandi, and food bank consultant Ambassador Angel Dalmau Fernandez.
A food bank is expected to be set up in the area by October 17.
Beneficiaries will receive a packed parcel of food which includes maize meal, tinned fish, corned beef, cooking oil, beans, packets of yeast, flour and sugar valued at N$550 per parcel.
Addressing the meeting, Fernandez explained that the food bank is not universal and is meant for the poorest of the poor.
“Early next month we will come here to give training for a week to the street committee chosen by your leaders – in that week we will teach them how to go into the community to identify poor families,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Khomasdal Constituency Councillor Margaret Mensah-Williams urged residents to support the government to identify poor families in the community.
“What we don’t want is for our people to die of hunger – we want to bring an end to those sleeping on a hungry stomach,” she said.
Nashandi called on residents to help the government in identifying families that qualify for a social grant but are not getting it due to one reason or another.
“What we don’t want is any Namibian dying of hunger because there is no food,” he said.
Nashandi said that so far residents of Katutura East, Katutura West, Tobias Hainyeko, Samora Machel and Moses Garoeb constituencies have benefited from a food bank.
He explained that the food bank is a pilot project meant to cater for those living in urban areas since those living in rural areas have received drought relief food, which scheme falls under the Office of the Prime Minster.