Governor Shaningwa criticises faulty census

ONESI PLACIDO HILUKILWA

The population of the Omusati Region was not properly counted during the Population and Housing Census of 2011 and this is creating problems with the distribution of drought relief.
This was said by Omusati Governor Sophia Shaningwa, who cited the example of the Onesi constituency where 17 000 residents have already benefited from the government's drought relief programme.
“Until yesterday (Tuesday) drought relief was distributed to 17 000 people in this constituency, but the 2011 Census counted only 13 000 residents. That means that residents of this constituency were not properly counted,” she said.
Shaningwa has been one of the critics of the 2011 Census, convinced that it was not conducted properly and that many Omusati residents were not counted.
“Many people were not counted and the mistakes made by the enumerators are causing problems. We cannot do proper planning based on a faulty census and we will not receive sufficient drought relief because many residents were not counted,” she said.
Shaningwa was speaking a ceremony at Onesi on Wednesday where the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority under Chief Daniel Shooya distributed 600 bags of maize meal of 10 kg each to people severely affected by the drought.
She thanked the traditional authority and Chief Shooya in particular and urged business people to also demonstrate their solidarity with the drought-stricken citizens by making contributions through the regional governor's office at Outapi.
Chief Shooya said his tribal authority has taken a portion from its coffers to meet the government halfway in its drought-relief effort.
Headman Nestor Iipinge gave a detailed explanation of how the maize meal will be distributed and reassured residents that those who have not paid tribal tax will not be discriminated against.
Onesi Constituency councillor Titus Kanyele said the donation was a clear sign that tribal tax can be used to make a meaningful contribution and encouraged residents to continue paying their dues.