Food bank to be launched #namibia

THE Food Bank initiative will be launched at
Bethanie village in December this year, //Karas
governor Bernardus Swartbooi announced on
Friday.
He was speaking at Keetmanshoop at his annual
meeting with employees of the //Karas Regional
Council and other government officials from the
region, where he updated them on development
progress in //Karas.
Prime Minister Hage Geingob's Food Bank idea is
aimed at reducing hunger and poverty in the
country by helping impoverished Namibians to
obtain food. This would also help prevent
situations where people end up scavenging for
food at dumpsites.
Swartbooi noted that residents of the region can
look forward to the establishment of an irrigation
programme in Bethanie where fruit and
vegetables will be harvested for distribution to
needy people.
The irrigation programme will be financed by the
Ministry of Trade and Industry at a cost of N$1
million.
"There is 5 000 hectares of land in Bethanie that
will be used for irrigation. Recently we also
bought 200 goats as part of the Food Bank
programme," the governor announced.
He explained that the idea is to breed and increase
the number of goats before identified residents
can receive 40 goats each to farm with and feed
themselves.
"We are requesting for the names of poor people
in need of food to be submitted to my office, so
that we know how many people need
assistance," Swartbooi said.
In August, two needy Keetmanshoop residents
received a corrugated iron house each through
the Food Bank programme initiated by the Swapo
Party regional office here in July this year.
They also received food, matresses and blankets
from the same initiative, which collects donations
from Good Samaritans and passes these on to
poor people in dire need of such necessities.
Swartbooi also noted that the recruitment
process for employees needed during the
construction of the Neckartal Dam is progressing
well.
These include labourers, bricklayers, drivers and
heavy equipment operators.