By:Fransina Nghidengwa

University of Namibia lecturer, Basilius Kasera, says a report of 45 children in the Omaheke region having died of malnutrition only demonstrates the depth of the socio-economic inequality in the country.

During his state of the region address recently, Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate raised concerns after 45 children under five years died in the last six months as a result of the malnutrition crisis in the region.

According to Kasera, this indicates government’s failure to ensure basic human rights and protect the most vulnerable of society.

Kasera said prioritising the interests of the less privileged, particularly children, remains a challenge.

A potential answer to redress poverty and malnutrition, according to him, is the universal Basic Income Grant (BIG).

The BIG has to date, been the biggest civil society project, united in fighting poverty in the country.

Kasera said the BIG is not a political statement, but is one proven to guarantee households with the financial security to make objective choices. Among such choices is access to basic life-enhancing necessities such as food.

“We cannot address child poverty through community soup kitchens, such care must be provided for the security of their family in the home. This is possible when families are provided with steady incomes to provide their children with adequate nutrition,” he said.

The Unam lecturer further said the deaths indicate a failure to provide far-reaching social protection.

“The UNCRC, to which Namibia is a signatory member, says every child has the right to decent standards of living. This is reaffirmed in Article 8 of the Constitution. But more often they continue to see the government’s failure to ensure the well-being and rights of children, in this case, especially protection from poverty and malnutrition.

“This is why civil society organisations play a vital role in advocating radical policy changes. There is a need to pressure the government to prioritise the well-being of the poorest members of our society, so they can provide better care for their children,” he said.

According to the 2022 Global Hunger Index, Namibia suffers from a serious level of hunger, ranking 78th out of 116 countries.

Malnutrition is a growing concern, with 24% of children under the age of 5 stunted (reduced growth relative to age), 6% experiencing wasting (weighing too little for their height), and 13% underweight.

According to Kasera, government is evading its responsibilities to protect children.

“The government needs to implement policies and programmes that tackle poverty and malnutrition effectively. The BIG is one such programme and must be accompanied by other social infrastructures that will ensure that the poor have access to essential services. Especially in the context of the current socio-economic conditions, the government must consider inflationary impacts on basic goods.”

He added that the poorest among them are paying a huge price as they cannot afford basic goods such as food.

“If we were able to pass so many bills in the last two weeks, we can also pass the bill for a universal BIG. Passing such a bill is a tangible manifestation of the government’s commitment to promoting human rights and ensuring that the well-being of children is also protected,” he said.

According to the World Food Programme Namibia is an upper-middle-income country, with a population of 2.5 million people. Despite this classification, 18% of Namibians live below the national poverty line.

Over a fifth of people were unemployed in 2021, mostly women and youth.

The impact of the current global and national food-price crisis on food security is heightened by various factors, including low production of food and livestock in communal areas, mainly due to limited access to modern farming technologies and practices, poor soil fertility, overgrazing, prolonged dry spells, limited access to markets and land-use practices.

According to Governor Nganate, more than 80% of the street children living in Windhoek are from Omaheke and need to be reintegrated and rehabilitated.

“Noting that this calamitous situation required a multi-sectoral and sustainable approach, the Governor has established the Regional Malnutrition Task Force, and is in the process of establishing a garden at the office premises,” Nganate said