//KARAS governor Lucia Basson’s office and Skorpion Zinc mine have donated small livestock worth N$143 000 to the Omkhaisen Dara Co-operative at the Snyfontein settlement to strengthen the local economy and create employment.
Basson gave 52 goats – 50 ewes and two rams – valued at N$69 000 to the cooperative at a handover ceremony held yesterday.
She said the intervention is aimed at enhancing the livelihood of small livestock farmers at Snyfontein and in the wider //Karas region.
The governor urged the cooperative members to demonstrate unity of purpose towards poverty reduction in their community by avoiding infighting and destructive tendencies.
“You must be warned that government and the private sector have invested serious time and resources in this cooperative.
Thus, we want it to outlive you, and to benefit the future generations on a much bigger scale,” Basson stated.
She noted that many socio-economic projects in the region have failed because of infighting among beneficiaries caused by greed.
“Let’s trust each other, and unite for the sake of development and prosperity,” the governor stressed.
Skorpion handed over 52 goats – 50 ewes and two rams – valued at N$74 000 at the same event.
Skorpion Zinc mine’s HR manager, Patrick Kamwi Chizabulyo, said the livestock donation to the cooperative is an extension of an existing livelihood support project, which is a joint venture between the //Karas governor’s office and the mining company. He said his company believes in securing people’s livelihood, which is an essential aspect of development.
“By doing so, in many ways we reduce poverty and restrain urban migration,” Chizabulyo added.
He thus called on the private sector to emulate this example elsewhere in the country. The Snyfontein residents formed the farming and gardening co-operative as part of their contribution to fighting poverty and ending hunger.
It has 23 registered members, and wants to achieve sustainable livelihoods and improve food security in the community.
The co-operative’s chairperson, Jan Kooper, expressed appreciation for the livestock donations, reiterating that the enterprise will have a far-reaching impact on the community through food security and employment-creation.
