Africa-Press – Namibia. EPUPA – Villagers at Okozongombe in the Epupa constituency have allegedly been left to fend for themselves under harsh conditions, exacerbated by perennial droughts that threaten both lives and livelihoods.
According to the villagers, predominantly Ovahimba, they did not receive drought relief aid for the past nine months.
The residents say their livelihoods have been severely affected after their crop fields failed to produce enough this year due to poor rainfall, leaving many households without a reliable source of food. Mambwalu Tjome, a resident of Okozongombe, said the situation has become dire, with families struggling daily to find something to eat.
“We depend on our mahangu fields, but this year the crops dried up. We have not received any food aid for months, and people are suffering,” he said.
Tjome further claimed that some community members no longer qualify for food assistance because they are members of Swapo, a claim that has caused frustration and confusion among residents.
To cope with the situation, some villagers have resorted to relying on handouts from tourists and visitors who frequent nearby lodges.
“We survive on what visitors give us. Sometimes they give us a little money or food, but it is not enough to sustain our families,” another resident Mbatjuva Ndjoze said.
Community members also raised concerns over the lack of access to clean and safe drinking water.
Another resident, Mbamuna Mbeha, said they are forced to drink water directly from the river, which poses serious health risks.
“The water we use is not clean. We share it with animals and crocodiles, which is dangerous, especially for children,” Mbeha complained.
He said women and children are the most affected, as they must walk long distances to fetch water and search for food, often under extreme weather conditions.
Mbeha said they are facing major challenges such as limited access to healthcare services, long distances to clinics, lack of proper sanitation facilities, and high levels of poverty and unemployment.
Some residents also complained about the lack of government outreach, saying officials rarely visit the area to assess their living conditions.
“We feel forgotten. No one comes to see how we are surviving,” said another villager.
However, Epupa constituency councillor Tjimutambo Kuuoko dismissed claims that certain individuals are being excluded from food aid based on political affiliation.
“The allegation that Swapo members are not receiving food is not true. The food is meant for all people regardless of political affiliation,” he said.
He said the community at Mavinga that is registered for drought-relief food is receiving assistance, like other villages, depending on availability.
“The constituency office receives food from time to time, but we are faced with transport challenges across the constituency and the region,” Kuuoko said.
He explained that only beneficiaries registered under the office of the Vice President receive food assistance monthly, and currently, there are no such beneficiaries in Mavinga village except for those at Otjamaungu.
Addressing concerns about the N$600 cash support, Kuuoko said this assistance is mainly targeted at people in urban areas.
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