WINDHOEK — China has become the first benefactor to Namibia’s poverty eradication ministry after handing over 760, 000 Namibian dollars ($54, 000) for the establishment of food banks.

The money was handed over to the poverty eradication minister and retired Bishop Zephaniah Kameeta by the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Xin Shunkang in the capital Windhoek on Nov 26.

President Hage Geingob has declared war on poverty and called on stakeholders to help government in this regard.

Geingob has said that government’s plan is to establish food banks as a stopgap measure to help end hunger.

The permanent secretary in the poverty eradication ministry I-Ben Nashandi told Xinhua that China through the Chinese Embassy in Namibia indicated their willingness to contribute to the establishment of the food bank among various other issues.

In his speech, Kameeta said he appreciated the donation especially that it has come after the ministry’s regional consultations.

According to Kameeta, they realized through the consultations that there is need to address some issues among them policy laws before embarking fully on the mission of eradicating poverty.

He said part of the money will help in addressing the issues identified during the regional consultations in October.

The other part of the money will be used in drilling boreholes to alleviate the shortage of water.

Ambassador Xin said China just like Namibia faces a similar situation of poverty and that they felt they needed to give a hand.