Niël Terblanché
The Namibian government has officially received a donation of 1 360 metric tonnes of rice from China as part of efforts to support the country’s nationwide drought relief programme for 2024/25.
The handover ceremony, held in Windhoek on Wednesday, is seen as a continued partnership between the two nations in addressing food insecurity.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, acknowledged the donation, stating that it was made possible following a bilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba during the 2024 China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit.
He expressed Namibia’s gratitude, noting that the rice is already in the process of being distributed to vulnerable communities, including households in the Oshikoto Region.
“The drought that our country is enduring has continued to test our resilience as a nation. This crisis has left an indelible mark on the livelihoods of thousands of Namibians who remain hopeful that the forecasted good rainfall will bring some relief,” he said.
According to the 2024/25 Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Report by the Office of the Prime Minister, 1.26 million Namibians—approximately 41% of the population—are currently food insecure.
Mutorwa described the figures as alarming, highlighting that the affected communities include the elderly, parents, and children who are struggling with hunger and loss of livelihoods.
Following an assessment of the drought’s impact, President Mbumba declared a State of Emergency on 22 May 2024, leading to the implementation of the nationwide drought relief programme.
The programme includes food assistance to vulnerable households, support for crop and horticultural farmers, aid for livestock farmers, and water provision to critically affected areas.
However, the government still faces a N$600 million funding shortfall to sustain these interventions until June 2025.
The Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Namibia during this challenging period.
He also announced that, during last year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, President Xi pledged an additional N$50 million food donation to Namibia.
“We signed Letters of Exchange with the Namibian side just a few days ago, and I believe this batch of food will be shipped to Namibia in the near future,” he said.
According to the ambassador, this promise will bring the total worth of the donations of Chinese food aid to Namibia over the past year to N$75 million.
China’s assistance extends beyond food aid. The ambassador revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding a Chinese-funded borehole drilling project in Namibia to improve access to water. He also emphasised the importance of development cooperation in agriculture between the two nations.
Mutorwa welcomed the ongoing support and expressed optimism for future collaborations to strengthen community resilience against recurrent natural disasters. “The government of the Republic of Namibia looks forward to future partnerships in various programmes, including building resilience against the challenges posed by climate change,” he said.
As Namibia continues to grapple with drought conditions, the collaboration with China offers a lifeline to many struggling communities. The partnership underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing food insecurity and ensuring sustainable support for those most in need.
