Last week, Erongo governor Neville Andre -on behalf of the Namibian government- accepted 20 refrigerated shipping containers with potatoes which Malta sent to Namibia as a donation.
The island of Malta had an excess stock of potatoes this season, resulting in the donation to Namibia through its government overseas aid programme.
Image: Ester Mbathera
According to an article on namibian.com.na¸ Andre said the donation was part of the international community's response to president Hage Geingob's appeal for assistance because of the threat to food security as a result of prolonged droughts and the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. “The government of Malta through our high commission in London agreed to assist Namibia with a donation of 500 tonnes of potatoes valued at US$195 000 [about N$3,3 million]. This consignment of potatoes will be distributed to approximately 160 000 people in vulnerable communities in Erongo and Khomas regions.”
The donated vegetables will be distributed to people at Walvis Bay, in the Swakopmund and Arandis constituencies in the Erongo region, and to vulnerable people in Khomas.