The minister of poverty eradication and social welfare, Zephania Kameeta, on Monday opened the first training course for food bank workers in Katutura.
The food bank was established earlier this year by President Hage Geingob.
Kameeta said: “There are hundreds of things we can do to eradicate poverty and our president has decided to start with the pressing issue, which is hunger.”
He urged Namibians to contribute to the initiative and not solely rely on the government for assistance.
“If we work together, in two or three years Katutura will not be the same,” he said.
In the Katutura East Constituency 37 people are being trained.
They will be responsible for identifying beneficiaries of the food bank scheme. Trainees will spend a minimum of four weeks in the field to draw up a list of beneficiaries.
A total of 224 trainees will be operational within a few weeks.
Former Cuban ambassador to Namibia Angel Dalmau will help with the training.
He said in the Tobias Hainyeko Constituency around 28 000 people have received food parcels while 20 000 have received food in the Moses Garoeb Constituency. He said the Katutura East Constituency will receive more than the previous two.
Areas all over the Khomas Region have been earmarked except for Windhoek West, Windhoek East and certain parts of the Windhoek Rural Constituency.
GARWIN BEUKES
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