Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698754097925.pdf (Namibia)
SPEECHBY THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY, HONOURABLE WlllEM ISAACKS AS CONTRIBUTION ON THE BUDGET OF 2013/2014 IN THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA 1 13th March 2013 HonSpeaker Hon Deputy Speaker Hon Ministers Hon members of this August House I rise to make a tiny contribution to the debate on the 2013/14 National Budget.

I comment the Hon Minister of Finance and her team for the preparation and tabling of the budget.
I applaud the premise from which the budget is drawn up and that you are in so doing trying to address the fundamental challenges we face in Namibia and also globally.

I must however note that I am disturbed by the reports that I read in the newspapers on the many Ministries that ended their financial years with surpluses.

That for me is a matter of concern.


That practice in itself denotes the absence of sincerity to responding to the needs of our poor as well as efficiency that lacks in our structures of administration and governance.

I say us.

We can present and approve the best budget in this Chamber but as long as effective implementation haunts our performance we won't be able to move an inch in developing our country and its people.
I admit that we have heaps of projects and have implemented projects that have bettered the lives of our people considerably, but I am convinced that we have the resources and capacity to do better.

Implementation is key to our development agenda.

Comrade Speaker I am happy that free education is not a mere slogan but that we are now going to implemented it to the letter.
I must however request that the responsible 2 Ministry be serious with the implementation of the program and that by so doing we remove the impossibilities of us, the poor, keeping our kids in school.

Unemployment is a subject one cannot talk about with ease since it cuts at the heart and pulse of this nation.

I am happy for the allocation made to various public sectors and would wish to see that conscious efforts are made through all identified government programs to accelerate the pace of job creation.
I call on the implementing agenciesto be fair and just in all the dealings through which we intend empowering our people.

Awarding of Tenders have the potential to be the most corrupt area where the weak ones are trampled upon at the expense of the stronger, advanced and advantaged individuals who have accessto resources and personalities others don't have.

Let us develop Namibia such that we all have space and equal accessto resources whilst being considerate ofthe less fortunate.
Comrade Speaker, Budgetary allocation made to Health Ministry should not be seen as a habitual priority, but must be seen as a serious development statement of the government on the importance it places on the Health of this nation.

I am particularly not impressed with the state of our health facilities.

I see that efforts are made to renovate and upgrade but the dilapidation that follows afterwards calls for effective administration and the enforcement of discipline on all levels.
Why do we need to go to private institutions if our own health facility would offer the same quality service here?

Comrade Speaker, Hon Members I commend my government for addressing the inequities of the past through its intervention programs.

I plea with the Ministry of Veteran Affairs to also speed up the process of visiting the remaining Regions to reach all those who have as yet not be benefitting from this program.
I have witnessed the relieve this program have brought to the few I know and would wish to see that those who endured the same pain and shame would also become recipients of such grants.

Comrade Speaker, allow me also to comment the job well done by Agriculture, recently we have witnessed the official inauguration nation of the Fresh Food 3 Hubs in the Kavango and Omusati Regions.

I hope that this infrastructure will be used for the interest of the inhabitants of the said regions.
I can recall the appeal of His Excellency President Pohamba to reduce import from our neighbors at these occasions.

Let's stand up as Namibians and joint hands, work together to make Namibia a fresh food producing nation.

We have water from the Kunene River to Kavango River, Kavango to Fish River, Fish River to Orange River.

I believe the Namibia nation is ready for feeding themselves with its own resources.

Only agricultural based industrialization can easily elevate poverty and hunger.
Comrade Speaker, With these few remarks, allow me to advance my support for the well grafted budget ad once more, congratulate my colleague and Minister of Finance.

My humble contribution ~~~~~ ~.

:..- I than you 4