Rays of hope for San
After suffering isolation and despair, a San community finally has something to smile about.
The improved structures for the small San community at Omundaungilo have been further improved with electrification from Northern Regional Electricity Distribution Company (Nored).
The community, which is home to about 900 people, faced total social exclusion.
Many of the elders and the children, of school-going age, were not receiving old-age pension or social grants from the government and the community was living in isolation from the rest of the country.
Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba said that the face of Omundaungilo will never be the same, adding the Omundaungilo San community has come to life with decent dwellings which improve their socio-economic conditions.
Mbumba, in a speech read on his behalf by the special advisor on health issues in the Office of the Presidency, Dr Bernard Haufiku, on Friday said the development of the Omundaungilo San community came as per a directive issued by President Hage Geingob, following Namibian Sun's exposé on the matter.
On Friday, Nored electrified the small community.
Following Namibian Sun's first story in February 2017 with several follow-ups highlighting the plight of the community which has been living in deplorable conditions for years, government released funds to erect dozens of corrugated-iron structures to replace the makeshift rag tents.
Many of the residents, including the children, were also not receiving any form of government grants but they are currently registered after home affairs officials were taken to their community.
“As per the directive issued by President Geingob upon reading an article in a local newspaper narrating the ordeal of an old San woman residing under unconducive and harsh conditions such as houses constructed out of plastic bags and waste material, funds were committed to improve the situation of the Omundaungilo people. Many stakeholders also assisted in the process,” Mbumba said.
“The face of Omundaungilo will never be the same again and this neighbourhood has come to life. With this electrification project, the socio-economic conditions of the residents of Omundaungilo have improved drastically.”
The vice-president's office spent more than N$800 000 to provide corrugated-iron huts to the community. Besides erecting 29 huts, the government also provided the community with a common kitchen area, drinking water and a brick-making project.
In February 2017, when Namibian Sun first reported on the conditions at Omundaungilo, a high-level delegation led by the deputy director of the marginalised community division in the Office of the Vice-President, Gerson Kamatuka, accompanied by regional governor Usko Nghaamwa, regional councillors and other government officials, visited the settlement and it was promised that their situation would improve.
No contractor was awarded any tender as a team of officials from various government ministries, offices and agencies all assisted.
The project was headed by the control administration officer in the Office of the Vice-President, Aaron Clase.
Clase said this acted as a skills transfer initiative so that after handing the houses over, the community will be able to maintain their structures on their own.
At the end of the project, allowances were also given to community members, who were involved in the project.
Also, after reading about the inhumane conditions in which the community lived, a Windhoek-based company - RisCura Consulting Namibia Pty (Ltd) - donated over N$23 000 which was used to purchase 60 mattresses and blankets to complement government's efforts.
Nored through its corporate social investment programme, has financed the Omundaungilo electrification project to the tune of N$324 736.
The leader of the community, Sadrah Amupolo, said they are happy about the new development.
He also said that they are educated on the important issues and that they will be responsible for recharging their prepaid electricity.
“The young ones have been trained on how to recharge the electricity and they will be helping us. Currently we will only be using it for lighting as none of us own equipment that uses electricity. We will see how we will be getting money to cater for our electricity usage. The majority of us here only do some domestic work,” Amupolo said.
“On the other hand, gone are the days when our old people and children used to suffer from bad weather. We are very happy.”
Lydia Haixuxua, 99, who spends all her time sleeping and doesn't talk, and Rusia Hamukanda, 105, are the oldest members of the community.
ILENI NANDJATO
The community, which is home to about 900 people, faced total social exclusion.
Many of the elders and the children, of school-going age, were not receiving old-age pension or social grants from the government and the community was living in isolation from the rest of the country.
Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba said that the face of Omundaungilo will never be the same, adding the Omundaungilo San community has come to life with decent dwellings which improve their socio-economic conditions.
Mbumba, in a speech read on his behalf by the special advisor on health issues in the Office of the Presidency, Dr Bernard Haufiku, on Friday said the development of the Omundaungilo San community came as per a directive issued by President Hage Geingob, following Namibian Sun's exposé on the matter.
On Friday, Nored electrified the small community.
Following Namibian Sun's first story in February 2017 with several follow-ups highlighting the plight of the community which has been living in deplorable conditions for years, government released funds to erect dozens of corrugated-iron structures to replace the makeshift rag tents.
Many of the residents, including the children, were also not receiving any form of government grants but they are currently registered after home affairs officials were taken to their community.
“As per the directive issued by President Geingob upon reading an article in a local newspaper narrating the ordeal of an old San woman residing under unconducive and harsh conditions such as houses constructed out of plastic bags and waste material, funds were committed to improve the situation of the Omundaungilo people. Many stakeholders also assisted in the process,” Mbumba said.
“The face of Omundaungilo will never be the same again and this neighbourhood has come to life. With this electrification project, the socio-economic conditions of the residents of Omundaungilo have improved drastically.”
The vice-president's office spent more than N$800 000 to provide corrugated-iron huts to the community. Besides erecting 29 huts, the government also provided the community with a common kitchen area, drinking water and a brick-making project.
In February 2017, when Namibian Sun first reported on the conditions at Omundaungilo, a high-level delegation led by the deputy director of the marginalised community division in the Office of the Vice-President, Gerson Kamatuka, accompanied by regional governor Usko Nghaamwa, regional councillors and other government officials, visited the settlement and it was promised that their situation would improve.
No contractor was awarded any tender as a team of officials from various government ministries, offices and agencies all assisted.
The project was headed by the control administration officer in the Office of the Vice-President, Aaron Clase.
Clase said this acted as a skills transfer initiative so that after handing the houses over, the community will be able to maintain their structures on their own.
At the end of the project, allowances were also given to community members, who were involved in the project.
Also, after reading about the inhumane conditions in which the community lived, a Windhoek-based company - RisCura Consulting Namibia Pty (Ltd) - donated over N$23 000 which was used to purchase 60 mattresses and blankets to complement government's efforts.
Nored through its corporate social investment programme, has financed the Omundaungilo electrification project to the tune of N$324 736.
The leader of the community, Sadrah Amupolo, said they are happy about the new development.
He also said that they are educated on the important issues and that they will be responsible for recharging their prepaid electricity.
“The young ones have been trained on how to recharge the electricity and they will be helping us. Currently we will only be using it for lighting as none of us own equipment that uses electricity. We will see how we will be getting money to cater for our electricity usage. The majority of us here only do some domestic work,” Amupolo said.
“On the other hand, gone are the days when our old people and children used to suffer from bad weather. We are very happy.”
Lydia Haixuxua, 99, who spends all her time sleeping and doesn't talk, and Rusia Hamukanda, 105, are the oldest members of the community.
ILENI NANDJATO
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