President Nangolo Mbumba engaged traditional leaders of the eight northern traditional authorities at Oshakati this morning.

The aim was to familiarise himself with traditional leaders, inform them officially that he had taken office as Head of State, and seek their blessings.

Residents of Omutsegwonime village in the Oshikoto Region fear that the repeat of past years of drought will manifest again this year.

Though many ploughed well on time, crops have started to wilt because of a lack of rain.

To date, the Omaheke Region has recorded below 100 mm of rainfall; hence, the farming communities, through the Office of the Governor, proposed that virgin lands be found with new boreholes.

Farmers at Okomungondo Village in the Omaheke Region have lost 100 heads of cattle due to drought.

The Vice Headman of Okomungondo, Tjipetekera Kamuhanga, told nbc News that this year's drought affected many households livelihoods.

As drought persists across the Kunene Region, Khorixas' constituency office is challenged by transport to deliver much-needed food aid to rural residents.

This was confirmed by Constituency Councillor Sebastian !Gobs in an interview with nbc News.

The implementation date for the livestock drought programme has been brought forward to July 1, 2023, instead of the initial October 1.

Drought relief assistance and livestock support programmes for thousands of vulnerable and affected communities and farmers in the Otjozondjupa Region will be distributed from the beginning of October until June 2024.

There is a shortfall of about N$600 million to implement the Namibian government's drought relief programme.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says the Disaster Risk Fund under her office only has about N$200 million, while the whole programme needs funding of up to N$800 million.

The Councillor of the Rundu Rural Constituency, Paulus Mbangu, has called on the Office of the Prime Minister to roll out drought relief in the drought-stricken Kavango East Region.

A team of officials from the office of the Prime Minister and Aminuis Councillor concluded a two-day rapid assessment of the possible looming drought in the Omaheke Region.

The assessment is also expected to come up with a comprehensive report.