THE state of drought emergency declared by the president in May this year will be extended for another six months, prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila announced in Windhoek yesterday.
She said president Hage Geingob declared a state of emergency in May, and as a result, the drought relief programme will not come to an end on Saturday.
“This afternoon (yesterday), I will table a motivation in the National Assembly to extend the period by a further six months to 5 March 2020,” added the prime minister.
She said from the initial budget of N$572,7 million, N$120 million was earmarked for food, N$290,5 million for water provision, and N$138 million for livestock support programmes, among others.
A total of N$131 million has been spent thus far.
“We have noted that the climatic conditions continue to be unfavourable, with negative effects on our communities and on the livestock as the grazing conditions continue to deteriorate.
“As we are entering the next phase of this disaster, our focus will remain on saving lives, and also on investing in building resilience so that we reduce the vulnerability of our communities and our economy to the effects of future droughts,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba declared the 2013 drought an emergency, while president Geingob also declared the 2016 drought a national disaster.
