The Christian Welfare Organisation hosted a pre-Christmas lunch for the elderly at Rehoboth.

Over a hundred elderly people, as well as members of the Christian Welfare Organisation and the Prime Minister, attended the event that takes place on an annual basis.

It was a special occasion for the elderly, as they were not only given lunch and refreshments but were also graced with performances from various gospel artists and the NDF brass band.

The Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who also attended the event, donated various items to the elderly.

The items consisted of three vacuum cups, 15 wheelchairs, 3,000 bags of 20 kilograms of maize meal, 3,000 750-millilitre bottles of cooking oil, and 12,000 cans of fish.

The Prime Minister emphasised the collective responsibility of the government, civil society, and individuals in addressing social challenges faced by the elderly.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila further stated that the initiative complements the efforts of the government to provide care and support to the elderly and others in society who are vulnerable and in need of special care and support. 

She noted that the government remains committed to promoting the safety and security of all vulnerable members, including the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and children.

"It is important that we inculcate in our communities a culture of caring for one another. It is said that the nation's civilisation is measured not by the level of its economic advancement, but by the way, it cares for its vulnerable. It is in this regard that our government has adopted a large welfare programme entailing social grants for the vulnerable, shelters for those who require special care, and food aid for those affected by emergencies and those facing hunger."

Among the elderly were three who were over the age of a hundred, with the eldest being 118 years old. Ten over the age of 90 and 77 over the age of 80.

The Chairperson of the Christian Welfare Organisation, Werner Coetzee, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the gesture.

"Thank you so much for this donation. We accept it and we are going to take full ownership and accountability on the distribution of this donation in collaboration with the office of the mayor."