Political scientist Rui Tyitende has described president Nangolo Mbumba’s decision to ask the international community to donate food to Namibia and avert the effects of the drought as a “colossal national embarrassment”.
He says the government has continuously overspent on drought relief and underspent on agricultural investment.
“How can a rich country like Namibia beg from the international community, which exploits its natural resources? As a country, we should be ashamed,” Tyitende says.
“The president begging on the international stage significantly undermines our sovereignty,” he says.
Mbumba made a passionate plea to the international community to donate food to Namibia amid a devastating drought at the official opening of the 2024 Omagongo Festival at Onambango in the Oshana region on Saturday.
His calls come after agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein told international delegates at a recent conference in Bali, Indonesia that the country is facing its worst drought in 100 years, and that 331 000 households so far have been registered for the government sponsored drought relief programme.
“We have a drought situation, and we have declared an emergency. We appeal to all our friends throughout Africa, the Southern African Development Community, and the world that we need some food. We need some help. We need some water. Those who can help us with money so that we can drill more boreholes will be most welcome,” Mbumba said.
Mbumba also urged police officers on Friday to allow Namibians to import mahangu from Angola.
Mbumba made the call at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ondonga Heritage Shrine in the Oshikoto region.
Read more in The Namibian newspaper.
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