Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Minister, bishop Zephania Kameeta announced this when he received tinned fish worth N$500 000 from the Namsov Community Trust on Wednesday.

President Hage Geingob directed that all ministers and permanent secretaries (accounting officers) sign performance contracts in order to hold them accountable for their actions.

Kameeta stated that his ministry, like other ministries, was ordered to provide ministerial statements of intent that outlines their responsibility for the ministry.

He explained that his ministerial statement was sent back to consolidate some changes and look at specific issues before the final submission on 28 August this year.

Kameeta stated that after the signing of the agreement, he will be in a position to announce the ministry's mandates.

“It is premature at the moment to tell you what the ministry is doing,” he said.

Kameeta, however, said his ministry will listen to what people are saying, do research and work accordingly.

Speaking at the same occasion, permanent secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, I-Ben Nashandi stressed that the ministry will carry out consultative meetings throughout the country as from 14 September to engage people at grassroots level on issues of poverty and social welfare.

The PS further said that the construction of the envisaged food bank will commence in October this year.

The building will be erected on a piece of land between the Swapo headquarters and the Katutura Red Cross Complex in Windhoek.

The idea of a food bank was initiated in 2012 after media reports highlighted how hundreds of people scavenge for rotten and stale food at dump sites in Windhoek.