‘Sex’ for food at Oshakati

… as Food Bank is being used to prey on vulnerable women

• BY HILARY MARE, MARX ITAMALO AND TRACY TAFIRENYIKA    

F OOD distribution under the food bank initiative has caused a stir in Oshakati-West where some residents – particularly vulnerable women- are accusing some distributors of soliciting for sexual favours from them to make the beneficiary list.

The food bank was established in 2013 to assist needy and vulnerable community members with food rations as a way of cushioning them against hunger. The beneficiaries include mainly the needy elderly and vulnerable members of society.

PREYING ON THE VULNERABLE

A source who spoke to Confidente this week highlighted that one member of the committee (name supplied) entrusted with the responsibility of distributing food in Oshakati-West constituency has been asking women from Oshoopala location, who want to be registered as beneficiaries, to sleep with him or forget about becoming beneficiaries.

“This man has been asking women to sleep with him in exchange for food. Many women here can attest to that,” the source said adding that the distributor has refused to register about three women who refused to sleep with him this year.

Read the full story in this week’s edition.