Residents warned to avoid rotten maize meal
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Otjozondjupa leaders have warned local residents against consuming rotten maize meal that was recently disposed of at Otavi’s dump site, warning that the spoiled food is not fit for human consumption.
In a recently released video circulating on social media, the drought relief bags were seen after they were discarded at the dump site.
In the video, residents slammed the regional council for wasting food, stressing that many people struggle to find enough food.
It was later confirmed that the bags, totalling around 34 tonnes, had become mouldy due to rainwater leaking into the Namib Mills storage facility.
“It has been established that the bags belong to the supplier, as they had not been delivered to the government. The bags got damaged in the storage of the supplier, reportedly due to spillage caused by heavy rains. The supplier, in compliance with health standards, disposed of the product. The loss arising is to the supplier and not the government,” the OPM explained in a statement.
Otjozondjupa regional governor James Uerikua explained that Namib Mills is one of the suppliers contracted by the OPM to provide drought relief food to government.
He emphasised that the bags were not stored in the regional warehouse and were not disposed of by the government or the constituency office.
Lost food
The stock stored in the Namib Mills warehouse was awaiting delivery to the respective regions.
However, a reported 34 tonnes were damaged due to excessive moisture that accumulated as a result of rains.
The OPM further explained that it sources its maize meal for the drought relief programme from millers who are duly registered with the Namibian Agronomic Board and meet set specifications.
The office underlined that it is the obligation of the suppliers to ensure that products supplied to the programme meet these specifications and are fit for human consumption.
Food distribution under the drought relief programme will continue until 30 June.
In a recently released video circulating on social media, the drought relief bags were seen after they were discarded at the dump site.
In the video, residents slammed the regional council for wasting food, stressing that many people struggle to find enough food.
It was later confirmed that the bags, totalling around 34 tonnes, had become mouldy due to rainwater leaking into the Namib Mills storage facility.
“It has been established that the bags belong to the supplier, as they had not been delivered to the government. The bags got damaged in the storage of the supplier, reportedly due to spillage caused by heavy rains. The supplier, in compliance with health standards, disposed of the product. The loss arising is to the supplier and not the government,” the OPM explained in a statement.
Otjozondjupa regional governor James Uerikua explained that Namib Mills is one of the suppliers contracted by the OPM to provide drought relief food to government.
He emphasised that the bags were not stored in the regional warehouse and were not disposed of by the government or the constituency office.
Lost food
The stock stored in the Namib Mills warehouse was awaiting delivery to the respective regions.
However, a reported 34 tonnes were damaged due to excessive moisture that accumulated as a result of rains.
The OPM further explained that it sources its maize meal for the drought relief programme from millers who are duly registered with the Namibian Agronomic Board and meet set specifications.
The office underlined that it is the obligation of the suppliers to ensure that products supplied to the programme meet these specifications and are fit for human consumption.
Food distribution under the drought relief programme will continue until 30 June.
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