Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698746256883.pdf (Namibia)
UPM It FROM OPPRESSION TO TRUE FREEDOM United People's Movement p.O.Sox 4621 Rehoboth, Cell: 081 369 8259 Head Quaters: Rehoboth Volkstem Sui/ding,Erf 153, Church Street, Rehoboth e-meil: nam.unitedpeople@yahoo.com www.rehobothbasters.org www.namibiaunitedpeoples.org CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SECOND READING OF THE 2016/17 NATIONAL BUDGET, HON JAN J.

VAN WYK(UPM) Han Speaker, Han Members I raise to contribute to the debate on the second reading of the national budget as was tabled by the Hon Minister of Finance.
Let me first congratulate the Hon Minister for a job well done.

The fact that the national budget was tabled this early, would allow ample time for debate.

It is important to note that you will always receive negative responses.

Hon Minister, the national budget gives an indication that we are moving forward.

In order for government to make positive changes we need to have the required resources of which financial and human resources playa very important role.
The voters are not interested in nice speeches, what they wants to see is positive changes to their lives.

The national budget aims to re-direct resources to areas, identified to be priority areas.

It is important to note that what government regard as priority areas would not always be seen as such by the public out there.

The idea of its time to turn words in to reality is highly appreciated !

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Han Speaker, Han Minister I would like to mention that the 2015 mid-year budget review was a step in the right direction.

It has help Government to identify problem areas and to take corrective action in the shortest possible time.

Han Speaker, Han Members The 2016/2017 National Budget seeks to address various issues including poverty eradication and to improve social welfare, which is appreciated.
However, efforts to eradicate poverty will not be successful if some people and groups are not part ofthe efforts.

The Hon Minister on page 8 of his budget statement proposed to increase old age pensions, to improve coverage in respect of Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Veterans of the Liberation Struggle.

Hon Speaker and Members, by excluding some of the poor people, will not do justice to government efforts.

You cannot claims wealth creation and shared prosperity for all but you exclude some people.
I am referring to the exclusion offormer soldiers such as SWATFand KOEVOETfrom our efforts to eradicate poverty.

Whether we like it or not we need to INCLUDEthem in government efforts to eradicate poverty.

Han Minister the decision to put the idea of solidarity tax on hold and to engage the people on this issue is appreciated.

It is important for people to understand what solidarity tax is and what it aims to achieve.
Hon Speaker and Hon Members, Government is committed to deliver affordable serviced Land and Housing under the~Mass Land servicing and Mass Housing Programs.

The commitment to deliver 5t?t..

If I {L"'O affordable ~ land is appreciated.

The questions however Hon Minister, on the lips of the nation are when will we see the results?

and long is the queue?

It is common practice that those who already benefited will benefit first before those who are really in need will be attended to?
I can assure you that those who see this commitment as an opportunity to make big bugs are on the lookout.

What do we have in place to ensure that we reach the Target groups and that corruption is eliminated?

1 VOTE 5 HOME AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION Hon Speaker, Hon Minister The Home Affairs Minister has achieved a lot through effective management, good policies and procedures.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has shown that we can do it.

It can however do with more funds.


Hon Minister, thank you for listening and most importantly, thank you for taking action.

In some parts of the country there is no need for people to complain about not having National documents.

I would like to urge people to make use ofthe services and facilities provided.
VOTE 6 SAFETY AD SECURITY Hon Speaker, Hon Ministers The Namibian Police and The Namibian Correctional Services have important mandates, however in order for it to lift up to the expectations, it needs to have the required financial & human resources.

Effectiveness is what the nation wants from the Namibian Police.
I am convinced that some police officers are not serious about their work as there are allegations corruption and favoritism action against some of them as they apparently assist their friends in criminal networks.

GBV has increase due to police officers not doing their work as required.

Vote 6 should be allocated the funds needed to make and keep Namibia a safe country.

However a well-funded ineffective and corrupt police force is not what the nation wants.
VOTE 27 SPORT, YOUTH & NATIONAL SERVICES Hon Speaker, Hon Members One sometimes get the impression that this vote is not regarded as important.

The amounts for sport promotion and support and youth and youth development is far from enough and needs a serious increase if we want to become a respected power house in sport and youth development.
VOTE 17 URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Hon Speaker, Hon Members, this Ministry is faced with many challenges, some of the biggest challenges being that it serve LA &Regional Councils that is not capacitated to carry out functions as required.

The lack of capacity results in that services are not rendered to the expected levels.

In effective LA Administrations, corruption and the quest for affordable serviced land just to mention a few are some other challenges.
It is important for the Ministry of have at least the capacity it requires on national level to effectively monitor, evaluate and correct the efforts of Regional & Local Authorities.

Hon Speaker, Hon Members, the plight of Village Councils and some Town Councils is that they cannot cope with the high NAMWATER bills.

Some Village Councils find it difficult to sustain itself, due to various reasons and the only once that suffers are the poor residents.
Some LA are suffering because of poor financial controls, they should take the blame and get out of their problems on their own.

I suggest that Government should therefore consider providing subsidies to Village Councils and some LA that really struggle to sustain themselves.

Such subsidies should however be paid directly to the bulk supplier.

3 VOTE 8 DEFENCE Han Speaker, Han Members It has become common practice in Namibia, that Defense is one of the biggest recipients of Government funding.
I agree that we should look after our Soldiers and compensate them as they are career and professional soldiers.

The nation therefore also wants to see them being more involve to fight crime.

I however gets the impression on the other hand, that Namibia has become an employment creation institution for the Chinese and North Korean Construction companies?, and that Namibia is compelled to provide as such, therefore the huge allocation on the development projects of this vote.

The hon.
The hon.

Minister of Defense should enlighten the nation on what is going on.

VOTE 10 EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE Han Speaker, Han Members It is good for Government to continue investing in this sector.

The aim is to provide quality education to our children.

We always complain that the biggest portion is going to salaries, yes, in order to get the best results, you need to compensate your workers properly.

It is however expected from teachers to bring the best out of our children.
Government efforts to improve in the abilities of teachers might soon start to deliver the expected results, but requires the inputs from all stakeholders.

A lack of discipline make it sometimes difficult for teachers to get the best out of some learners and this have an effect on the sector.

Children have rights but with that rights goes responsibility, something we have failed to tell our children.
Han Speaker, Han Members I fully agree with the Minister of Education to raise the bar to 27points for grade 10, and her explanation make sense.

I suggest that the issue be debated and I suggest that the public be educated as they should understand that as a nation we should always reach for the stars.

We only need the best for our children and stakeholders should take note that we will not compromise.
Substandard work on Government en education facilities should stop as it have a negative influence on the Education Sector.

As a nation we do not want to hear that money was returned to treasury whilst our children still sits in dilapidated class rooms, tents and even under trees.

Accommodation for teachers needs serious attention, to ensure that the education recruits the best teachers at all times.

Another issue that needs attention, is the use of conventional classrooms.
These classrooms are not conducive to our leaning environment and should be regarded as a short term solution.

National and Regional structures should work together to ensure that we deliver and give equal opportunities to all children.

Official who fails to carry out certain functions should be called to order.

Ho Speaker, Han Members Let me quickly touch on a very important issue, that of Traditional Authorities.
The Ministry of Urban &Rural Development is faced with a lot of problems regarding Traditional Authorities.

These organs has over the years and prior to Independence played an important role in the lives of communities and still needs to play their role.

Traditions and cultures should be respected, that is what we preach all the time.

Why is it that so little is put forward to empower Traditional Authorities?

4 The Council of Tradition Authorities only meet once a year, why?

Because there is no money?


I suggest government allocate more funds to TA in order them to serve their people.

The only other time when we hear about Traditional Authorities is when Newspapers report on fights in TA.

My plea is that as Government, we should give more attention to Traditional Authorities whether not.

they are recognized or In conclusion Hon Speaker, Hon Members, It will be unfair not to say something about the New Parliament Building and the amount allocated to the project.
It is public opinion that we do not need a new parliament.

I suggest that we continue engaging our people on this issue.

I have recently engaged 67 people on the issue.

All of them were against the building of a new Parliament, reasons being as follows; we need classrooms, proper health facilities and affordable serviced land, so why not allocated the money to those fields and projects?
The other questions are, why the huge increase from 700 mil in 2015/16 to 2, 2 billion in 2016/177 Who will get the tender to construct the building?

If we compare the 2.2 billion for a new parliament with the 6.6 billion allocated to Defense, 2.2 billion seems to be little money.

Keeping in mind that the Chinese will be the contractors, billions are leaving this country to benefit the Chinese, Why?

These are the questions the public struggle with.


Hon Speaker, Hon Members, the public is not aware of the challenges with regard to the limited space,at parliament and how it negatively influence the work of Parliament and the work of Members of Parliament.

I suggest that we provide the public with more information as to why NAMIBIA needs a NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING.

Thank you for listing ..

I rest my case for now.

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