The Cabinet has endorsed the enrolment of an additional 64,525 households to benefit from the national drought relief programme, which initially targeted 341,855 households.
The decision, announced following the 18th Decision-Making Meeting, carries a financial implication of N$256 million for the 2025-2026 financial year.
“Cabinet also supported the enrolment of additional sixty-four thousand, five- hundred and twenty-five (64,525) households to the drought relief beneficiaries, with a financial implication of N$256 million for the 2025/2026 Financial Year,” Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus said.
In addition to the expanded drought relief programme, the Cabinet allocated N$16.8 million from the National Emergency Disaster Fund to support regional quarterly funding for ongoing drought interventions.
This move forms part of the broader outcomes from the National Drought Platform, which took place in Windhoek from 25 to 26 September 2024.
Theofelus noted that key areas addressed include governance, transport logistics, urban hunger, water provision and malnutrition.
The platform also focused on strengthening coordination and funding mechanisms for the country’s drought response efforts.
This comes after Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila last month said the drought is expected to affect an estimated 1.26 million people between October 2024 and March 2025.
This represents approximately 41.5% of the country’s total population, with rural and vulnerable communities expected to bear the brunt of the crisis.
Speaking at the National Platform on the Implementation of the Nationwide Drought Relief Programme, Prime Minister Kuugongelwa-Amadhila outlined the severity of the situation, urging stakeholders in disaster risk management to intensify their efforts.
“The food insecurity situation is expected to heighten in the period from October 2024 to March 2025, with 1.26 million people expected to be affected, before it moderates to 776,000 people after March 2025 up until June 2025,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
According to the Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis report, approximately 1.15 million people were already experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity during the period from July to September 2024.
Rising food prices, driven by the global economic downturn and the El Niño weather pattern, have further exacerbated the crisis.
Meanwhile, donors have also stepped in to support Namibia’s drought relief efforts with donations worth N$12 million having already been received, with additional pledges amounting to N$229.7 million.
The Prime Minister urged communities to take advantage of available resources, including seeds, farming implements and tractor services, to prepare for the next farming season.
“The Government has invested in seeds and farming implements such as tractor services to assist farmers in improving their farming practices. These services are available at Agricultural Development Centres countrywide,” she said, encouraging farmers to act early to maximise the benefits of the upcoming rainy season.
