Vice President Lucia Witbooi visited the 1995-Omusati Project at the Nakayale Disability Centre in the Omusati Region.
The rehabilitation centre was established under the leadership of founding president Sam Nujoma and the then Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation.
The centre was created to provide shelter and rehabilitation to veterans who were injured or traumatised during Namibia's liberation struggle.
The project currently has ten members involved in tailoring, carpentry and welding.
However, all their sewing machines are broken, and they are in need of sewing materials.
They also require carpentry and welding materials, including wood and metal supplies.
The project vehicle is old and in poor condition, while the centre is also struggling with fuel shortages.
The project consists of two workshops and 12 houses built by the government in collaboration with local businessman Mauno Haindongo and other business people.
"Today as a region we seek to revive this centre into a special school for persons with disabilities. Through the directorate of education in Omusati, we have begun collecting data on all persons living with disabilities in the region. This school will especially benefit the visually impaired, the deaf and others who require special education," remarked Governor of the Omusati region, Immanuel Shikongo.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi said her visit was aimed at familiarising herself with the centre's achievements, challenges, aspirations, and needs.
She added that the government will continue supporting efforts aimed at improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities, further expressing her desire to see the centre transformed into a successful and sustainable project.
"My office has been mandated by our president, Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of the Republic of Namibia, to oversee and support persons living with disabilities in our country. Therefore, for the Omusati 1995 Project, I have directed the Division of Disability Affairs to ensure that by the third quarter of 2026 (October, November, December), we provide industrial machines and tailoring equipment to this project. We will also engage the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) for possible assistance to cover the utility expense."
She then called upon the private sector, the faith-based organisations and the civil society to join hands with the government in its effort to improve the livelihood of persons living with disability in our country.
The rehabilitation project was set up in 1995 and was run by 20 war veterans who initially operated under a tree.