OKONDJATU – Okakarara constituency councillor Ramana Mutjavikua has expressed serious concern with the growing number of residents, especially children from disadvantaged homes, who are now turning to the town’s dumpsite for food and survival. 

Airing his distress, Mutjavikua said increasing poverty levels and general unemployment amongst the constituency’s youth have reached alarming rates – and more needs to be done to assist his office in tackling those issues. 

One of the biggest concerns he raised is the unbecoming habit of vulnerable members of the community selling the food parcels and related items they receive from the government. 

“While my office and other government offices continue to make serious efforts to address these problems, especially the lack of food amongst our people, the very same people we help with food simply turn around and sell the food they get from the government’s feeding programme to others and then come back again, claiming that they are hungry. It is a huge problem that we are facing, and one that needs collaborative efforts. But in all honesty, we are facing a serious problem of hunger and unemployment,” said Mutjavikua.

The councillor also cautioned members of the community to refrain from buying food items from beneficiaries of the government’s feeding programme, saying they are worsening the situation and hampering efforts to address the thorny poverty question. 

“Although Otjozondjupa region remains one of the biggest cattle producers and contributes significantly to the country’s GDP, we will continue to face these problems because more needs to be done – innovative ways to address poverty and unemployment. It is really sad to see our people turning to the dumpsite for food and survival; that’s not how it should be. Some of these people eating at the dumpsite are school kids and children from vulnerable families. We need to do more and do better as a constituency and as a country,” he said.

Unemployment in the constituency, which has about 24 000 inhabitants, last stood at 47% in 2011, compared to 52% recorded in 2001.

- ohembapu@nepc.com.na