Ovatjimba family resort to rubbish bins for food

By: Ketemba Tjipepa

Faced with dire hunger in the Kunene Region, 51-year-old Uangandja Tjambiru says she had to find alternative ways to feed her six nieces and nephews, eventually bringing them to Windhoek’s Katutura Multi-Purpose Youth Complex Stadium.

Tjambiru, originally from Omaanda village in the Epupa Constituency, told NewsOnOne that persistent drought has made life difficult for communities that depend on livestock and crop production.

During a visit to the complex this week, the children were seen eating a fish they found in a rubbish bin.
The Ovatjimba are a marginalised community living in the Epupa Constituency, Kunene Region.
Tjambiru claims some of her relatives died of hunger, prompting her to come to Windhoek out of fear that the children in her care could face a similar fate.

“People are dying there from hunger. My aunt and a man who was related to my mother’s husband died of hunger. Hunger is killing people in Omaanda, and that is why I decided to come to Windhoek in search of a better life. I brought the children with me because I was afraid they might also die from hunger,” said Tjambiru.

She has been living in Windhoek for eight years, and said part of their daily struggle includes the children waking up as early as 04h00 to search for food in rubbish bins.

Tjambiru added that they have a better chance of finding food in Windhoek, either in rubbish bins or from people who sometimes give them food out of pity.

“There are no rubbish bins at the village where we can look for food. At least here in Windhoek, there are rubbish bins where we can sometimes find food. What else can I do? I have to find a way to feed the children,”said Tjambiru.

Epupa Constituency Councillor Tjimutambo Kuuoko said the situation in Omaanda needs to be understood in the context of the drought, which has affected livestock and crop production.

“At Omaanda, there are more than 300 Ovatjimba people. You first need to understand what is really happening on the ground. The community is affected by climate change, which has brought drought and a lack of rainfall. Many animals have died, and crops have failed or dried up,”remarked Kuuoko.

Kuuoko said some relatives who previously supported families in the community are now in Windhoek in search of greener pastures, including former Koevoet members who are waiting for their payments.

“It may be that hunger is what brought Tjambiru to Windhoek. You cannot simply take her back home because she is caring for a large number of children and needs support as well. Send me her details so we can see how we can help the family,” noted Kuuoko.

Kuuoko added that Ovatjimba communities receive structured food assistance from the government monthly but said he would need to establish whether Tjambiru is registered under the programme.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s 2023 Population and Housing Census, Ovatjimba account for 4.9 percent of the 75,569 people identified as belonging to marginalised communities.

The report notes that marginalised communities continue to face challenges in education, employment, housing and access to basic services.

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