Boost for Skoonheid San

SKOONHEID – Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila handed over 20 cattle, 10 donkeys and 15 ploughs to the San people at Skoonheid on Friday.The animals and equipment were donated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

Speaking at the handover, Amathila said Government was aware of the marginalisation of the San people. She said it should be the collective responsibility of all Namibians to ensure that the San are brought on a par with other communities.Amathila said the donation is a step by the ministry to extend a helping hand to the San community at Skoonheid to improve their lives.”Take note that the animals are for breeding and ploughing, but not for consumption,” she warned the community.Amathila appealed to the San to use the animals and equipment appropriately.”I will not come again to make donations to you, you must now work hard with what you have been given today.Show us the good results of your work.I also do not want to hear stories of animals that were lost.”Amathila said that if they do not use this donation for its intended purpose, they would remain poor.She pointed out that their destiny is in their hands, adding that they should work hard to improve their livelihood.”You must also know that constant feeding of San communities from the State coffers is not a sustainable, nor a desirable policy option.Feeding of communities is meant strictly for disaster periods, and therefore, through empowerment initiatives as this one here today, the Government wants to reduce ‘hand-outs’ especially to the San,” she added.- NampaShe said it should be the collective responsibility of all Namibians to ensure that the San are brought on a par with other communities.Amathila said the donation is a step by the ministry to extend a helping hand to the San community at Skoonheid to improve their lives.”Take note that the animals are for breeding and ploughing, but not for consumption,” she warned the community.Amathila appealed to the San to use the animals and equipment appropriately.”I will not come again to make donations to you, you must now work hard with what you have been given today.Show us the good results of your work.I also do not want to hear stories of animals that were lost.”Amathila said that if they do not use this donation for its intended purpose, they would remain poor.She pointed out that their destiny is in their hands, adding that they should work hard to improve their livelihood.”You must also know that constant feeding of San communities from the State coffers is not a sustainable, nor a desirable policy option.Feeding of communities is meant strictly for disaster periods, and therefore, through empowerment initiatives as this one here today, the Government wants to reduce ‘hand-outs’ especially to the San,” she added.- Nampa