EDITORIAL: Streamlining implementation of drought-relief programme
The devastating effects of the ongoing drought will not be mitigated unless the government adopts a centrally coordinated national disaster response system that monitors drought-relief stocks in real time.
The current uncoordinated efforts have proven to be costly, while yielding little results because the intended beneficiaries of the drought relief are not the ones on the receiving end.
While one has to applaud the government for decentralising the distribution of drought-relief food, we cannot ignore the continuous acts of manipulation and power abuse on the part of regional councils who disenfranchise the starving by failing to deliver food on time and to the identified beneficiaries.
There are also cases where councillors allegedly refuse to give drought-relief packs to community members who hail from differing political backgrounds. We cannot allow a situation that sees politics superseding the well-being of our communities.
Politicians - especially regional councillors - should remember that distributing drought relief based on political allegiance actually goes against the oath they took to serve all Namibians, irrespective of their political standing.
We hope the national platform on the implementation of the 2024/25 nationwide drought relief programme, which was launched yesterday, will serve as a reminder to all stakeholders of the importance of collaboration if we want to ensure that the drought-relief programme is implemented successfully.
The current uncoordinated efforts have proven to be costly, while yielding little results because the intended beneficiaries of the drought relief are not the ones on the receiving end.
While one has to applaud the government for decentralising the distribution of drought-relief food, we cannot ignore the continuous acts of manipulation and power abuse on the part of regional councils who disenfranchise the starving by failing to deliver food on time and to the identified beneficiaries.
There are also cases where councillors allegedly refuse to give drought-relief packs to community members who hail from differing political backgrounds. We cannot allow a situation that sees politics superseding the well-being of our communities.
Politicians - especially regional councillors - should remember that distributing drought relief based on political allegiance actually goes against the oath they took to serve all Namibians, irrespective of their political standing.
We hope the national platform on the implementation of the 2024/25 nationwide drought relief programme, which was launched yesterday, will serve as a reminder to all stakeholders of the importance of collaboration if we want to ensure that the drought-relief programme is implemented successfully.
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Namibian Sun
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