United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for the upcoming Swakopmund Constituency elections, Zerolda Dantu, said she will prioritise a homeless shelter that would also house street kids at the town, among others.

Dantu, in her manifesto during the party’s star rally at the town on Saturday, said should she be elected as councillor, her office would come up with strategies to build a shelter to house these people until they can get back on their feet.

“As a community leader, my heart bleeds when I see that our people are homeless or out on the streets begging for food.

I will therefore strive to build a state-managed shelter home, a project which will be implemented in collaboration with the ministries of health and social services and that of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare, in order to turn the homeless into productive citizens,” Dantu noted.

She added that a feeding scheme will be an additional project which she aims to pursue toward the eradication of hunger and poverty in the town.

“Proper nutrition is the main contributing factor to productivity, however, due to the harsh and down-trending economic situation of our country, many families are unable to afford proper nutritional meals for their children.

This affects their performance in school. Therefore, my office will create a feeding scheme at schools and the needy communities. I believe this will also help those in need, especially the street kids,” she said.

Meanwhile, UDF President, Apius Auchab, at the same event said that the core value, through its candidate, is ensuring the betterment of the lives of the Swakopmund residents.

“Our challenge as UDF is to take the Swakopmund Constituency to the next level of success by building it with commitment.

Another important priority for the party, through our candidate, is the health of our people, especially those in the informal settlements, which will be made easily accessible,” Auchab noted.

The Swakopmund Constituency elections are slated for 12 August, during which eight candidates will contest for the position.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency