Zambezi: Zambezi Governor Dorothy Kabula-Simushi has announced that 917 beneficiaries in Katima Mulilo urban and at the Bukalo settlement are receiving the N.dollars 600 monthly Conditional Basic Income Grant (CBIG). During her State of the Region Address in Katima Mulilo, the governor highlighted the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare's strengthened and expanded social protection efforts. These initiatives have resulted in 7,682 elderly individuals receiving grants, 2,198 beneficiaries being on disability grants, and 130 on temporary disability grants.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the governor stated that programmes were implemented to empower communities, promote entrepreneurship, and support vulnerable groups. These interventions focused on skills development, financial support, and practical training. Eight beneficiaries received equipment and materials worth N.dollars 77,000 through the income-generating project programme to support and expand their small businesses.
Kabula-Simushi addressed youth and women empowerment by reporting that nine projects were successfully funded under the microfinance programme, while four projects received support through the cash/food for work programme. According to the governor, these initiatives collectively bolstered various economic activities, including livestock farming, catering services, poultry production, and horticulture.
The governor noted that the programmes provided short-term employment opportunities and facilitated skills development to beneficiaries, contributing to community resilience, income generation, and food self-sufficiency. Furthermore, ongoing social welfare and protection grants are supporting war veterans in sustainable livelihood initiatives. Kabula-Simushi mentioned that the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs implemented programmes such as the once-off gratuity, monthly subvention, and others.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has successfully implemented various agronomic and value chain support programmes in the region, significantly enhancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food security. These initiatives have directly benefited 622 farmers. The rain-fed agronomic subsidy programme, implemented through dry land crop production, provided support to farmers at a cost exceeding N.dollars 2 million.
In a concerted effort to combat land degradation, adapt to climate change, and promote sustainable crop production, the ministry extended support to 355 farmers through a conservation agriculture programme. The National Horticulture and Value Chain Support Programme also provided essential farm inputs and capacity building to 10 small-scale horticulture producers, representing an investment of N.dollars 700,000.
The governor acknowledged limited progress at the region's sole green scheme, the Kalimbeza Rice Project. Out of 150 hectares of irrigable land, 38 hectares were planted, yielding 77 tonnes of Irga short-term variety rice and 30 tonnes of Super rice. In terms of water infrastructure, Kabula-Simushi reported that 22 new boreholes were drilled in strategically identified locations, while 12 existing boreholes were rehabilitated to restore their functionality. Furthermore, 15 boreholes were installed, and eight existing water points across the region underwent rehabilitation.
With the increasing population and people migration, 246 new water point applications were received and surveyed, as emphasized by the governor, underscoring the ongoing demand for water resources in the region.