Focus on the poor!

While those of us privileged enough to work and earn salaries rush to stock up for the immediate lockdown of the economic powerhouse regions of Khomas and Erongo, amid elevated fears and precautions brought on by the coronavirus, the poorest among us remain the most vulnerable.

Those with farms are privileged enough to send their kids and family members there. Those who have the means can continue to flock to shops to buy supplies needed for the long haul.

Yet, families in the poorest areas of our nation remain sitting ducks who can ill afford to buy the barest of necessities, let alone pay inflated prices for sanitisers or even medicine for the common cold. They depend on government services.

They live from hand to mouth, and with measures becoming more stringent and expected to impact informal livelihoods, the concept of feeding their children during this time is becoming the stuff of nightmares.

What is needed is a wholesale focus on the poorest of the poor, so they can survive this torrid period in our history. We are looking forward to a raft of measures during the new finance minister’s budget speech next week. Top of mind should be getting the poorest and most vulnerable through this crisis.