Namibia has declared a state of national disaster over the severe drought and power shortage that have affected the country, its president said on Sunday. The declaration will allow the government to mobilize resources and implement measures to mitigate the impact of the crises.
President Hage Geingob, who was speaking at a media briefing in Windhoek, the capital, said the drought and the power crisis were the result of climate change and the lack of investment in the energy sector. He said the drought had caused crop failures, livestock deaths, and food insecurity, while the power crisis had disrupted the supply of electricity and water, and hampered the economic and social activities.
“The drought and the power crisis are two of the most pressing challenges facing our nation today. They pose a serious threat to our livelihoods, our development, and our security,” Geingob said. “We have therefore decided to declare a state of national disaster, as a matter of urgency, to enable us to mobilize all the necessary resources and to implement the appropriate interventions to address these crises.”
He added that the government had allocated 1.2 billion Namibian dollars ($80 million) to provide relief and assistance to the affected communities and sectors, and to implement short-term and long-term solutions. He said the government had also appealed to the international community and the private sector to support its efforts and to cooperate in the response and recovery.
The president said the government had identified several priority areas for intervention, such as providing food and water to the vulnerable groups, such as children, women, and the elderly; supporting the farmers and the agricultural sector; procuring and distributing power generators and solar panels; and investing in renewable energy and power infrastructure.
Namibia is one of the driest countries in the world, and has experienced recurrent droughts in recent years, due to the effects of climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. The current drought, which started in 2020, is the worst in 40 years, according to the UN. It has affected more than 1.6 million people, or about 60% of the population, and has reduced the cereal production by 53%, compared to the average of the last five years.
The power crisis, whichh has worsened since January 2024, is the result of the aging and inadequate power infrastructure, the high dependence on power imports from neighboring countries, and the low investment in the energy sector. The country’s power utility, NamPower, has been struggling to meet the growing demand for electricity, which has exceeded the available supply by 300 megawatts. The power shortage has led to frequent blackouts and load shedding, affecting the households, businesses, and industries.
The drought and the power crisis have had a negative impact on the country’s economy and development, which were already suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global recession. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 7.3% in 2020, and grew by only 1.2% in 2023, according to the World Bank. The poverty rate increased from 17.4% in 2019 to 21.3% in 2023, while the unemployment rate rose from 33.4% to 36.7% in the same period.
The government, however, has expressed its determination and optimism to overcome the challenges and to build a more resilient and prosperous nation. It has said that it is committed to implementing the necessary reforms and policies to diversify the economy, create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of life of the people. It has also said that it is working to enhance its capacity and preparedness to cope with the effects of climate change and to promote the sustainable use and management of its natural resources.
Despite the difficulties, some experts say there is still hope for Namibia to achieve its development goals and to realize its potential, if the government and the society work together and leverage the opportunities and the advantages that the country has. They also say that the country has the potential and the resources to become a leader and a model in the region and the continent, in terms of renewable energy, conservation, and innovation.
Source: AP News
