WINDHOEK – First Lady Sustjie Mbumba dedicated her Saturday to aiding senior citizens in the Tobias Hainyeko constituency by distributing winter blankets and food items. The charitable effort was part of an event organized by the Omkhai Namibia Trust, attended by nearly 100 elderly individuals and people with disabilities.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the First Lady passionately addressed the gathered crowd, criticizing the younger generation for neglecting their elderly family members and leaving them to care for grandchildren. “All you do is give birth and dump your children to the elders who are now burdened as they have to use the old age pension that was meant to help them, to sustain the whole family,” Mbumba stated, emphasizing the need for greater respect and care towards the elderly.
During her speech, Mbumba also urged parents to communicate more effectively with their children about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. She reminisced about her own upbringing, which was free from such issues, contrasting it sharply with the challenges faced today by youth in Windhoek and other urban areas. “Children are leaving their elders in the villages, and coming to Windhoek to look for work. When they don’t find work they resort to drugs and alcohol, stealing other people’s belongings, grabbing bags from their elders and poor defenseless women,” she remarked.
The event also included a wellness session for the pensioners, which featured foot massages, adding a touch of comfort to the aid provided. Saima Shaanika, founder of the Omkhai Trust, outlined the organization’s mission since its inception in March 2022. The Trust focuses on empowering underprivileged individuals by supporting young, talented children from marginalized communities through education, and assisting young entrepreneurs with microfinancing.
Shaanika expressed the organization’s commitment to expanding their outreach. “We appreciate the elderly by giving back in the form of winter initiatives and Christmas parties. So far we have done projects in the Khomas region but we want to cover all the regions, going constituency by constituency,” she stated, indicating future plans for wider community support.