Maria David
THE Ombaye Fishing Tsumkwe Community Trust has built ten corrugated-iron houses at a cost of over N$150 000 for the San community that has settled at Onakalunga village.
However, the homes are yet to be availed with a pipeline that will supply water following a delay in funding from the Central Government.
The construction of the new houses follows after the Ohangwena Regional Governor, Walde Ndevashiya took some pictures of the San community living in their clay huts and shared them with prospective sponsors.
The San people are known for making their homes in caves, under rocky overhangs, or in temporary shelters and they do not domesticate animals or cultivate crops, even though their knowledge of both plants and animals is vast.
However, the newly-built homes are an indication that they are slowly adapting to modern life.
Speaking to Informanté, the 105-year-old Lucia Haufiku stated that they are thankful for their new accommodation and they are ready for development.
Haufiku explained that in the past they used to sleep in clay huts and when it rains they are never spared by the rain forcing them to move to the other huts that will withstand heavy rainfall.
Minister of Marginalised Communities, Royal Johan /Ui/o/oo, said the living conditions of the San people remain average.
/Ui/o/oo stated that it requires active measures to ensure the development and in turn, the empowerment and restoration of human dignity for marginalized communities are attained.
He noted that the construction of housing structures for the San community must be used as a trajectory that should be followed and embodied by all leaders and the nation at large.
/Ui/o/oo urged the beneficiaries to take full responsibility in maintaining the houses with pride and equally remember that they are human beings deserving respect, dignity, social protection, and equal opportunities.
Ndevashiya indicated that during his familiarisation visit during August last year to Omundaungilo constituency, to assess the living conditions of the marginalized people amidst COVID-19, there were 17 families were living in deplorable conditions without proper housing, clean water, or ablution facilities.
He stated that through the governor’s marginalized and vulnerable people’s decent housing project initiative, they were able to mobilised and solicited support to construct proper housing for San community members.
“The construction of those houses is a clear indication that we need to continue creating conducive living environments for our marginalized people in the region,” he said.
Ndevashiya stressed that despite the economical challenges, his office will continue to solicit support and mobilize resources to support marginalized and vulnerable people’s decent housing initiatives.
