Marythar Kambinda

KATIMA MULILO - The ministry of poverty eradication and social welfare handed over income generating equipment to beneficiaries in the Zambezi region on Tuesday.

The items will be used for tailoring, gardening and carpentry businesses and are valued at N$77 000. Speaking at the occasion, the minister in charge, Doreen Sioka, highlighted that the mandate of the ministry is to ensure gender equality, poverty eradication and socio-economic development of targeted groups.

As such, the ministry is therefore given the noble duty of contributing to the improvement of the livelihoods of Namibians, through a number of deliberate and targeting policies, projects and programmes.

Sioka further highlighted that the income generating activities support programme aimed to inspire women and men from poor communities to establish or expand their micro enterprises. She added that it is evident that through these programmes, many women and men who received support improved their earnings and created employment opportunities for others.

“It is rather unfortunate to hear and note that some people that benefited through this initiative did not flourish, and some are no longer in operation,” she said.

Sioka further added that, due to limited resources, the ministry was unable to support every applicant in this programme, and therefore encouraged other aspiring business women to join other interventions such as the women in business associations.

Katima Mulilo Urban constituency councillor Kennedy Simasiku thanked the ministry for the initiative that has benefited many in the country and particularly those within the region who are in great need of establishing the projects. “If you go to the market, the majority of those running SMEs are women,” he said. 

He further echoed the same sentiments as the minister by pointing out that the government is doing its best to meet the beneficiaries half way but there are those that have not utilised these opportunities.

Simasiku encouraged the beneficiaries to look after the equipment and to fully utilise them as there are a lot of people out there who are in need of similar opportunities but have not received any assistance.

One of the beneficiaries, Inonge Kanyanso stated how happy she was about receiving her sewing machine.

“I used to have a sewing machine before but it broke down, and I have been unable to purchase one. I am therefore delighted that I have benefited from this programme as it will help me get back into business,” said Kanyanso.