Katima mulilo: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Natangue Ithete, on Thursday officially handed over a storage facility from the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) to the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) at Katima Mulilo. The building, situated in the Ngweze residential area on erf 3543, has a history of serving as a butchery and, more recently, as a training centre for Triumphant College.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Ithete stated that the Namibian Correctional Service will use the building for its home-grown food production programme. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports while providing skills training and rehabilitation opportunities for offenders. The storage facilities are expected to enhance the value chain by preventing food spoilage and ensuring sustained use.

Ithete highlighted the benefits of improved stock management and nutrition within correctional facilities, with the potential for surplus supplies to assist the broader community. He noted that the facility represents innovation within institutions, contributing to food security beyond farms and markets. Ithete expressed hope that other institutions would emulate the progressive strategies of the NCS to further the nation's food security goals.

NCS Deputy Commissioner General, Sam Tukondjela Shaalulange, assured Ithete that the facility will support the ministry's and country's food production aspirations. He emphasized the NCS's commitment to providing safe, secure, and humane custody for offenders, which includes meeting their basic needs such as food.