Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Regional government officials anticipate challenges as the Conditional Basic Income Grant (CBIG) programme, aimed at providing cash support to vulnerable households, extends to additional towns and regions, including Walvis Bay, Henties Bay, Arandis, Omaruru, Rehoboth, Karasburg, and Ongwediva.
The programme, implemented by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, was originally piloted in Windhoek under the Harambee Prosperity Plan, replacing food parcels with cash transfers for low-income households.
The governor of the Oshana region, Elia Irimari, expressed concerns about documentation requirements that could exclude some eligible households.
“The challenge we anticipate is when those who really need it, do not meet the requirements,” he said.
He added that a lack of identity cards and household registration documents may hinder access to the grant.
“Beneficiaries without documentation can make a declaration at the police station. However, providing false information will result in legal consequences,” Irimari said.
Irimari further highlighted a potential issue with applicants from surrounding areas attempting to register within town boundaries.
“Those at the end of the towns might also take chances to register whilst they are not living within the town border,” he said.
Ongwediva mayor Taarah Shalyefu raised additional challenges related to community demand and the ministry’s capacity to manage the increased volume of applications.
“The demand is likely to go up because everybody would want to be included,” he said.
Shalyefu also expressed concerns over the honesty of applicants, particularly those who do not meet the requirements but seek to benefit from the program, such as individuals already receiving pensions.
“I would request that people seriously give this opportunity to those in serious need,” he said.
Shalyefu also mentioned potential limitations in the workforce managing the program.
“I don’t know whether the ministry has enough manpower to do this,” he said.
He added that in the Oshana region, officials from the Ministry of Gender are working with regional and local authority staff to ensure the program reaches those who qualify.
Shalyefu said, however, past issues with beneficiary lists persist, with reports of ineligible individuals still included, despite verification efforts with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The CBIG initiative, which began in April 2022, has transitioned food aid beneficiaries to a monthly cash grant, initially of N$500, later increased to N$600 in March 2023. A total of 8,238 households currently benefit from the program across the 14 regions.
Following a directive from the Cabinet Decision, the ministry will expand the program to all proclaimed urban areas, initially sourcing funding from the National Emergency Fund and later planning to include it in the national budget.
In preparation for the program’s expansion, ministry officials will conduct field visits to various towns for registration, re-registration, and validation of beneficiaries in November and December.
The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare has requested community support and is urging residents to bring all necessary documentation, such as identity documents and birth certificates, to ensure a smooth registration process.
