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.

This was announced by the Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, James Uerikua, who says the council will monitor closely to ensure there is no wastage of food aid or communities not able to access the aid.

At the Gam Settlement, about 100 kilometres from Tsumkwe, community members flocked in large numbers to register for food and livestock assistance.

Residents of Oshakati can breathe a sigh of relief as there will be no tariff increase for this financial year.

The announcement was made during the tabling of the council's 2023–2024 budget, amounting to N$214 million.

The council says it took note of the current global and local economic situation in the town.

Against this background, the council, he says, decided not to effect any tariff increase on water, sewerage, or refuse removal.

The ongoing government drought relief program in the Kunene, Erongo, and Omusati regions was extended on Tuesday to May 2024 by a Cabinet decision.

In a media statement issued on Thursday, the government stated that the drought relief program underway in the Kunene and parts of Erongo and Omusati regions will continue as per the Cabinet decision, which was taken at the fifth Cabinet decision-making meeting that took place in the capital on Tuesday.

The Cabinet also approved N$21 million for this program.

Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala says the poor rainfall experienced in the region has become worrisome for both crop and livestock farmers.

The situation, he says, has resulted in many northern communal farmers losing any hope for a bumper harvest this year.

The Omusati Governor says poor rainfall has left many communal farmers in ruin, especially those in western areas of the region.

According to Endjala, the area has not received significant rain since February 1st.