OTJIWARONGO: Villagers of the Omaihi and Ekuenje in the Okakarara Constituency on Monday received a donation of building materials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).Omaihi and Ekuenje villages are situated 70 kilometres east of Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa Region.Chief Control Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister Gerson Tsamaseb delivered the building materials to the beneficiaries here from the capital to Okakarara.
He said the donation was made to the villagers of Omaihi and Ekuenje whose houses were damaged by the strong winds and heavy rainfalls during February this year.The 68 timber poles, bags of timber nails, 38 square line tubes, bolts, 158 gum poles, 220 corrugated iron zincs and 17 cement bags of the 50 kilograms (Kg) for the two villages, were purchased by the OPM at approximately N.dollars 60 000.
Tsamaseb said that his office in February this year was informed of a strong wind, combined with heavy rainfalls that destroyed some houses in the villages of the Omaihi and Ekuenje.“We then conducted our assessment on the losses. One of the recommendations came out that the villagers of both villages should reconstruct their houses on 50/50 basis, Government to assist them with building materials and they do the re-building,” explained Tsamaseb.
He urged the residents in the Otjozondjupa Region to start building their houses with strong materials and strengthen the roofs, as well as the body structure to enable them withstand any heavy storms.
“That is the pro-active approach you should take to prevent this kind of natural disaster attacks damaging your houses and properties kept inside,” noted Tsamaseb.
Otjozondjupa Chief Regional Officer, Jeaneth Kuhanga received the materials on behalf of the Otjozondjupa Regional Governor Rapama Kamehozu.In Kamehozu speech delivered by Kuhanga, he said that natural disasters are a phenomenon that can strike anywhere, anytime.
He said that causes a lot of sufferings on the victims like here on the Omaihi and Ekuenje villagers, who went through a lot of sufferings after a loss of their houses from the winds and heavy rains.“However, there is no one to blame for that suffering. You lost your houses and properties like any other Namibian who suffered from the floods in the northern part of this country, have faith and hope,” Kamehozu said.
He urged them also to now use innovation in reconstructing their houses with the donated materials so that their houses can resist and stand the winds and heavy rainfalls coming again before end of this year. He praised Government for the response rendered on the plight of the Omaihi and Ekuenje residents through the donation.
He furthermore urged the OPM to continue rendering necessary supports to the marginalised and destituted communities all over the country.“That is commendable, and we in Otjozondjupa Region recognise your efforts,” he said.