Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister of gender equality Lilian Lutuhezi has called on the gender ministry to ensure vulnerable social grant beneficiaries do not lose their income during the verification process.
This comes after the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare put out a notice last week warning beneficiaries that they only have until the end of July to get verified or risk losing their money.
Lutuhezi on Monday said while verification is necessary to protect the integrity of the country’s social protection system, the suspension of grant payments before the verification process is completed will cause unnecessary hardship to many.
She asked the ministry to explain what measures would be put in place for beneficiaries who are unable to meet the July verification deadline because of illness, disability, old age or lack of transport.
“Verification should strengthen, not weaken, our social protection system. Its success must be measured not only by administrative compliance, but by how well it protects the dignity and welfare of vulnerable Namibians,” she said.
She said the suspension has left many elderly people, people with disabilities and other vulnerable beneficiaries without food, medication and other basic needs.
Many travelled long distances, spent money on transport and waited in long queues to comply with the ministry’s requirements, she said.
“These challenges could have been reduced through mobile verification teams and verification at existing grant pay points, recommendations I repeatedly made in parliament,” she said.
Lutuhezi added that it is concerning that some beneficiaries who are verified did not receive their payments this month.
