By Emilia Mbishi
Otjombinde, Oct. 27 – A project to construct houses for the marginalized San community was been abandoned in 2017, after the community was relocated from Eiseb block to a remote location called Okarongo in the Otjombinde constituency in the Omaheke region, just for them to experience a lot of loss.
Instead of the houses which were never constructed after promises to do so, only 10 latrines have been built so far and still remain closed, according to Winsel Kavaka a constituency councillor.
He said the toilets cost the government between N$70 000 and N$80000 while the 200 intended beneficiaries of the project sleep in makeshift structures made from plastic and scrap metal which cannot protect them from any harm or harsh weather.
The San community has been living in the area without any basic needs including the health facilities they were promised but nothing was constructed. The San had been given cattle to keep but most died from a poisonous plant that grows in the area.
According to Kavaka, the San community was moved from the urban areas to the virgin land so they could practice their culture because when they lived in urban areas they became exposed to alcohol and drug abuse.
Asked how they got food the councillor said they get government handouts and when that does not arrive they get food from the bush although he was not sure if there was food available from nature to feed all of them them.
The community wrote their demands on cardboard for the regional councillor hoping their needs would be met especially as the rainy season has come and their plastic shacks cannot hold and they are asking for assistance.
