Outapi
The Governor of Omusati Region has appealed to traditional leaders to ensure that cucashops in the villages adhere to the prescribed operating hours to encourage community members to work in their mahangu fields.
Governor Erginus Endjala said there are individuals who currently rely solely on drought relief food for subsistence, but spend their mornings drinking tombo in the hope that government will come to their aid if the drought persists.
Endjala made the remarks at a meeting with traditional leaders at Outapi recently, where he appealed to shebeen owners to adhere to normal operating hours, saying those who transgress should be reported to the authorities and dealt with accordingly.
Endjala said the dependency on government to provide drought relief should come to an end and suggested that government should assist only where there is a crisis.
“These types of acts are Satanic and do not do any good to our society. We are in February in the middle of the rainy season.
“This is the time that members of the community are expected to plough and cultivate their fields rather than spen time at cucashops drinking tombo,” Endjala charged.
Endjala said he wants to see a situation where drought relief is prioritised for people who really attempted to secure food for themselves, but because of climate and other factors failed.
“We need to teach our people to fend for themselves. We cannot rely on hand-outs forever and that is why I think that maybe drought relief should only be given to those who attempted to cultivate their fields but failed,” Endjala said.
“There are people who are really starving and need assistance, but there are also individuals who are just drinking tombo because they know government will give them drought relief food eventually,” he said.
Central government has reportedly spent more than N$900 million on drought relief food. This is money the governor believes could have been used to build at least 1 000 schools for those children still being taught in makeshift classrooms and tents