Uerikua counts Otjozondjupa victories
Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua has highlighted the progress made and victories attained by his office.
Speaking on the plight of the indigenous San community in the region, he said initiatives such as the education support programme have yielded positive results, despite the hurdles faced during implementation.
“The education support programme particularly looks at what support we can give to a San boy and girl for them to able to go to school, get enrolled, go through school and eventually graduate at the end. Which is a difficult process, because you need to convince a person who was never in school, and whose parents are reluctant about them going to school, so you bring in incentivising programmes,” Uerikua said.
He added that a monthly allowance of N$350 was introduced for San learners as an incentive to get them to go to school.
Meanwhile, a feeding programme was introduced to the marginalised community, he said, explaining how it has evolved over time.
“The feeding programme was introduced, which included three bags of maize meal, five tins of fish and five tins of beans, but now this has transformed. Equally so with the food bank programme that is now converted into vouchers, where every month a fixed amount of money is given to every marginalised person for them to able to use this money to buy whatever they need,” he said.
Resettlement programme
Uerikua also highlighted a resettlement programme that resulted in over 7 000 hectares of land being purchased by government for the resettlement of marginalised communities who used to homeless.
“Farm Uitkoms accommodates around 187 families, which translates into about 3 000 people. A school has been established [as well].
“There is a clinic, good signal in terms of network and police stations are there to guard against alcohol and drug abuse, but there are serious challenges also coming from a farm like that,” he said.
He explained that the influx of people has resulted in overgrazing and rife substance abuse.
Speaking on the plight of the indigenous San community in the region, he said initiatives such as the education support programme have yielded positive results, despite the hurdles faced during implementation.
“The education support programme particularly looks at what support we can give to a San boy and girl for them to able to go to school, get enrolled, go through school and eventually graduate at the end. Which is a difficult process, because you need to convince a person who was never in school, and whose parents are reluctant about them going to school, so you bring in incentivising programmes,” Uerikua said.
He added that a monthly allowance of N$350 was introduced for San learners as an incentive to get them to go to school.
Meanwhile, a feeding programme was introduced to the marginalised community, he said, explaining how it has evolved over time.
“The feeding programme was introduced, which included three bags of maize meal, five tins of fish and five tins of beans, but now this has transformed. Equally so with the food bank programme that is now converted into vouchers, where every month a fixed amount of money is given to every marginalised person for them to able to use this money to buy whatever they need,” he said.
Resettlement programme
Uerikua also highlighted a resettlement programme that resulted in over 7 000 hectares of land being purchased by government for the resettlement of marginalised communities who used to homeless.
“Farm Uitkoms accommodates around 187 families, which translates into about 3 000 people. A school has been established [as well].
“There is a clinic, good signal in terms of network and police stations are there to guard against alcohol and drug abuse, but there are serious challenges also coming from a farm like that,” he said.
He explained that the influx of people has resulted in overgrazing and rife substance abuse.
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