Drought-relief food to benefit flood victims only, says president

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has encouraged communal farmers in the northern regions to work hard to ensure good harvests, as drought-relief food distribution will soon be limited.

Nandi-Ndaitwah says as of June, the government will only distribute drought-relief food to severely affected flood victims. This follows good rains received over most parts of the country which saw many communal farmers producing good crop yields.

Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking at Oshakati on Saturday during a visit to the Ehenye Relocation Centre, which currently shelters over 1 300 relocated flood victims.

“I am not saying that the drought-relief food distribution will be stopped completely, no. This year, we received good rainfall and I understand that most crop farmers have managed to produce good yields. It looks like we are not going to experience hunger because of the good harvests.

“Starting from June, I just want those that were relocated by the floods to benefit from the drought-relief food. We are not going to give food just to anyone, my focus will be on those whose crop fields were submerged in water and did not manage to cultivate their crop fields,” she said.

She called on constituency councillors to register all those severely affected by the floods and emphasised that only registered residents would benefit from the drought-relief programme.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also made a personal donation of clothing, blankets and food items to the flood victims at the centre.

“This is just to motivate everyone to work hard and produce their own food, because a nation that is unable to produce their own food will never gain respect from anyone,” she said, further advising residents not to merely rely on the government for food.

“We have received enough rainfall, so I urge you all to make use of the rain water and produce your own food,” she added.

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