Omitara hungers for basic income grant return

EIGHTEEN years ago, Omitara residents were the envy of many. The small settlement, nestled in the Okorukambe constituency of the Omaheke region in eastern Namibia, became the first to receive a basic income grant – a civil society initiative by the BIG Coalition, an organisation comprising churches, unions, youth organisations and non-governmental organisations. The pilot project, implemented in 2008, aimed to reduce poverty, hunger and inequality. Beneficiaries, the residents of Omitara, were getting N$100 a month. However, the initiative came to an end in December 2009. In its place, a reduced monthly and temporary cash amount of N$80 was paid