The Omaheke Regional Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, is engaging the residents not to abuse their social grants.

The outreach programme is aimed at ensuring that social grants are directed to those who are genuinely in need without subjecting them to the cycle of debt and exploitation.

Speaking at the Oitara settlement in the Okorukambe Constituency, the Chairperson of the Omaheke Regional Council, Ignatius Kariseb, stressed that misuse of social grants is widespread.

"We have realised that we need a mass campaign on the beneficiaries of social grants so that they can understand that these grants are meant for their own good because, in our case in the region, we have people who exploit beneficiaries through cash loans and through businesses that are trading with goods such as alcohol. So, what we are just saying as leaders is that we cannot sit idle and see the people going through this hardship."

The Deputy Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Bernadette Jagger, pointed out that social grants are the safety nets for the vulnerable, and those abusing them are trambling on the rights of the beneficiaries.

Jagger added that constant awareness campaigns and monitoring by those close to the beneficiaries, including traditional authorities and churches, play a role.

"Together with us, we need to make sure we curb the misuse of grants that come from the government, so church leads who are here, I hope that the message is clear to the traditional leaders: you must stand up for your community and talk to your people through your traditional meeting. The main purpose of the grants is to lift the most vulnerable and needy citizens of our country out of extreme poverty."

The awareness campaign is scheduled to take place in all seven constituencies of the Omaheke Region.