20 Apr 2020

Chobe District Council's chief community development officer, Mr Ogoditsemang Semele, says the COVID-19 food relief basket assistance package is being distributed smoothly in the district.

In an interview today Mr Semele said as at April 9 to 17, a total of 744 households had been assessed.

He said out of the figure, 569 had been recommended for the food basket and 300 had already received their baskets, leaving 175 pending.

Mr Semele explained that the food basket was divided into four categories of 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and nine and above members of the household, adding that the food basket was a balanced one because it took cognizance of all the household members, including children.

He said when the exercise started, they targeted the most distressed families who needed urgent help, which were 54 in number.

The officer explained that 50 members were assisted by the council whilst the remaining four got assistance from a businessman in Kazungula.

Mr Semele further explained that the businesses community and individuals in the Chobe District continued to donate towards efforts to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the area Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Machana Shamukuni donated 80 bags of sorghum and 80 bags of mealie meal while Kasane Red Cross Society donated food basket for 10 people.

Kubu Lodge also donated 10 food baskets for 10 people while Leswaani Community Junior Secondary School (CJSS) in Kachikau donated the same, which was channeled to 10 families living with needy children from the school.
 
Mr Semele said Kasane Central Transport Organization (CTO) and Kasane Land Board also pledged transport and that the council managed to hire additional nine social workers as instructed by the government.

In addition, he said the council has dispatched 30 officers to carry out the exercise in the nine villages of Chobe, adding that their target is to have finished the exercise not later than April 28.

Mr Semele explained that one of the challenges they faced is that some compounds had many families, which takes more time for officers to assess and distribute food baskets.
 
He appealed to would-be assessed households to be patient, adding that at the end, they will reach everyone. ENDS