The Omaheke regional leadership has proposed resilient-related programmes to assist in the event of disasters like drought, fire outbreaks, and hailstorms, amongst others. 

This was shared during a consultative engagement with the Deputy Prime Minister, John Mutorwa, at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region. 

The regional leaders noted more needs to be done, although the government has been doing well in assisting communities with drought relief measures like food distribution and livestock subsidies.

The regional council of Otjombinde Wenzel Kavaka said new methods need to be established to find permanent solutions to unfavourable weather patterns that force communities to live in poverty. 

Kavaka added that modified projects are required for better livestock grazing areas because bush encroachment affects already limited grazing areas. 

"We have to sustain ourselves because with this rain that is not coming, for the very first time in my life to see a year where rainfall has been below 150, and one is questioning that we are hoping maybe during the rainy season it will come but if it does not come, meaning that the situation will turn from bad to worse."

The constituency councillor also discussed the need for transportation to expedite the distribution of drought relief food in a timely manner. 

The Regional Governor, Pijoo Nganate, also requested additional fire trucks to respond to fire outbreaks in the region. 

"The worrisome thing is that we don't have a single fire extinguisher truck that belongs to the government within the region, and that's a big problem. The only one we have is for the forestry, which is having to default that it is not running at all or is running but the piping has not been done or corrected."

Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa agreed with the regional leadership to develop drought-resilient programmes and to share adequate information on disaster risk.

"Therefore, when we respond to those types of disasters, we must also help and make sure that the building materials are available. Someone who is knowledgeable must help so this thing can be steady because we know next time the wind will still come, but otherwise, any disaster programme is an important programme and I know the people that are involved don't deal with this programme to get income as all of us have our own responsibilities, but when we are called upon to get involved, safe lives are the main definition there."

Alcohol abuse amongst vulnerable communities was also addressed as one of the leading factors in severe poverty that affects livelihoods that rely on drought relief food.