Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Gender Equality and Poverty Eradication has spent about N$ 511 million per month on grants, expanding social safety nets in the fight towards poverty eradication in the country.
This was said by the Minister of Gender Equality, Doreen Sioka, who said that the political will from the government has assisted her ministry in succeeding in its mandate.
“We provided grants to senior citizens and the young ones in Namibia. Namibia is one of three countries in Africa that provides grants,” Sioka said.
The minister detailed that the ministry provided grants to all Namibian citizens and permanent residents older than 60 with a grant of N$1,400, which is the old age grant. As of September 2023, a total of 204,370 active old age grant beneficiaries were registered on the ministry’s system, which is a (70%) coverage rate. The ministry also provided Disability grants of N$1,400, which are allocated to people 16 years and above who have been diagnosed by a state doctor to be temporarily or permanently disabled. The ministry administers five children grants, which include foster parent grants, maintenance grants, orphans and vulnerable children grant, child disability grant.
Sioka also added that the ministry provided Conditional basic income grants, which are provided to existing beneficiaries of the former food bank programme. This was converted to a cash grant of N$ 600 to each household. “A total of 35,308 households benefited from this conditional basic income grants. This was an initiative of the Namibian president Dr. Hage Geingob,” Sioka said. The minister also added that Food parcels were also provided to 29,000 households of marginalized people in 10 regions which included the San, Ovahimba, which costs N$ 51 million per annum. She added that the ministry is trying to change this to a monthly contribution instead of a quarterly food distribution.
Sioka added that during this year, the ministry spent N$ 3.5 million to assist students from marginalized backgrounds at various higher learning institutions. The minister said that although her presentation focuses on social safety nets that contribute towards poverty eradication, she would not do justice to her statement without adding what the ministry has done to curb GBV and the trafficking of persons. Sioka said that recently the ministry launched the 16 days of Gender-Based Violence campaigner in the Hardap region. This campaign will end on 10 December in Kavango West.
“We held a men’s conference against GBV in Keetmanshop. This was attended by more than 500 men. GBV is one of the contributing factors of poverty. Once the parent is eliminated on earth, the children end up in the hands of the government. As we go into December, other ministers should address GBV and say it’s bad. In 2024, we are going for election. These people who are dying are our voters; we have to protect our people, as we did with HIV/AIDS. We were so vocal because we knew our people were dying. Do not depend on the Ministry of Gender alone. I implore all community leaders and youth to continue to work together against GBV,” Sioka concluded.
