Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa has warned those selling food meant for drought relief that such acts are tantamount to crime.

He also urged regional leaders to familiarise themselves with the operations of the Disaster Disaster Risk Management Programme and ensure that communities in need benefit from it.

Mutorwa made the remarks at Katima Mulilo while on a familiarisation visit to the region on the activities of the Disaster Risk Management Committee.

He witnessed many crop fields from which many people would have little or no harvest.

Namibia took a significant step forward in disaster risk management with the official launch of the National Awareness and Communication Strategy for Disaster Risk Management, which will run from 2023 to 2027.

The strategy aims to address natural disasters and mitigate their effects in a timely manner.