Windhoek — President Hifikepunye Pohamba last week handed over 32 community houses, a school and clinic to the San people at Farm Uitkomst situated about 250 kilometres east of Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa Region.

The government, through the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, has allocated Farm Uitkomst to the San Development Programme for the resettlement of this community.

The housing project at Farm Uitkomst consists of 32 community houses, two teachers houses, 44 dry toilets, 35 showers with drains, one community office, one kindergarten building, three school classrooms, one house for a nurse, a clinic, as well as fully-installed water reticulation system. Households consist of 71 adults and 49 school-going children.

Pohamba said he was pleased that these families now have a place that they can call their own.

He commended Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila for her commitment and diligence in addressing the plight of these communities, and all the donors that have assisted in making the project a reality.

"As a nation we must urgently and vigorously address the socio-economic disparities, caused by underdevelopment. We can do this by redoubling our efforts to expand the national economic base in order to accelerate the social and economic development for the benefit of all our people in line with Vision 2030" said Pohamba.

He added that his government would continue with its obligation and efforts to integrate these communities into the mainstream of the society.

"Our undertaking to make it possible for every citizen to benefit from the fruits of independence and freedom of our country will remain our guide in this regard. Our Swapo party government will continue to implement our undertakings in National Development Plan III (NDP3) towards improving the quality of life to our people," he said.

Pohamba said the empowerment of the San community includes the provision of scholarship for San learners, literacy projects for adults, early childhood development centres, aquaculture projects, provision of draught animals and seeds, creation of employment opportunities, resettlement programmes, coffin manufacturing projects, San women projects, distribution of donations, conservancy programmes, and beekeeping projects.