NC makes u-turn on food bank, social grants debate

WINDHOEK, 24 MAY  – Members of the National Council (NC) on Thursday said they fully support initiatives and programmes implemented to ensure poverty is eradicated in the country, and are not against the food bank.

The council held a media conference here following a reaction by the Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MPESW), Zephania Kameeta on a debate held in NC on Tuesday on the issue of the food bank.

The NC debated that poverty could not be eradicated by giving people free food and that there were too many people receiving social grants and this would lead to Namibia becoming a country of social grants.

Kameeta on Wednesday lashed out at the NC members, saying that the councillors were probably speaking on behalf of their regions and thus welcomed letters to delete the social grants to those regions.

Vice Chairperson of the NC, Bernard Sibalatani said the contribution looked into the social welfare system of Namibia and what the members expressed was that it should be harmonised.

“The sentiment is that there are too many players in the system leaving loopholes for duplication, overlapping and double benefits,” he said.

The council members thus proposed that all social grants resort in one ministry under a professional institution like the Social Security Commission (SSC) which can have a database to avoid duplications and overlapping of benefits.

The members also proposed that social welfare in Namibia be improved by increasing the workforce by strengthening employment creation opportunities; establishing an issuance to cater for loss of employment; and introducing a single grant for those who were never employed and still have no means of income.

Sibalatani said the NC was however concerned with the long-term sustainability of the grants and the poverty eradication ministry addressing and finding the root causes of poverty.
NAMPA