.. Zuma pledges N$100 million for drought relief
WINDHOEK – “My delegation feels drought is of 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,” South African President Jacob Zuma told the Namibian parliament yesterday in his special address.
Zuma said he had been briefed on the ongoing drought since his arrival in Namibia on Wednesday, and hence decided to pledge N$100 million towards relief of the dire situation.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Theo Ben Gurirab, on behalf of the Namibian nation 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 said.
Approximately one third of Namibia’s entire population is now classified as food insecure. Of these, 330 000 people are in need of urgent support, according to the government, which declared a state of emergency on May 17.
A prolonged dry season has resulted in widespread crop failure across the length and breadth of the country. The government estimates that the 2013 harvest will produce 42 per cent less than the 2012 harvest. An estimated 4 000 livestock have died.
The situation is particularly severe in the north and the Zambezi Region.
Zuma’s address in parliament followed talks with President Hifikepunye Pohamba. The South African president highlighted the bond of liberation between Namibia and South Africa.
“We have many cadres who lie buried alongside their Swapo cadres, who died in combat or through natural causes. That is a bond that can never be erased. We shared prison cells. We shared pain and anger. We shared trenches and revolutionary tactics. We shared a common vision. We were resolute and firmly uncompromising. We knew that our struggle was just and democratic and we were bound to overcome it. And overcome it, we did,” he said.
In the joint communiqué issued on the state visit to Namibia by Zuma, Namibian Foreign Affairs Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the two Heads of State reviewed a wide range of issues of bilateral, regional and international significance. The two presidents exchanged views on the prevailing political, economic and security situation in the SADC region as well. In particular, she said, they “welcomed the positive developments in the DRC, the peaceful conduct of elections in the Kingdom of Swaziland and Madagascar and also expressed concern about the emerging instability on the African continent.”
Presidents Pohamba and Zuma condemned the recent resurgence of armed violence by Renamo and further urged it to cease such activities. They also expressed support to the government and the people of Mozambique
The two heads of state reaffirmed their support to the people of Western Sahara in their quest for self-determination and further reiterated their support for a sovereign state in Palestine.
Regional economic integration was also high on the agenda and the two leaders committed to work together in such pursuit.
Zuma who was on a two-day state visit also launched the Bi-National Commission to deepen bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Namibia.
The Heads of State Economic Bilateral meeting which focused on economic cooperation was replaced by the Bi-National Commission that will take on a new format of cooperation, which will include more bilateral sectors such as education, gender, health, fisheries, land, ICT and culture under the same framework for bilateral meetings between the two presidents.
By Albertina Nakale