Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698754137983.pdf (Namibia)
UNITED PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT "A Political Party duly registered in terms of the electoral laws of the Republic of Namibia" r.o.

Box 4621, Rehoboth, Cell: 081 369 8259, email nani.!.

'"itedDeople@vaho'!.~"m 081 1404573, Fax 062 52 5915 27 March 2018 CONTRIBUTION ON THE 2018/19 NATIONAL BUDGET, HON JAN J VAN WYK, UPM PARLIAMENTARIAN Thank you Hon Speaker I rise to make a small and humble Hon Speaker, Hon Members, to the debate on the national budget as tabled by the Hon contribution, Minister of Finance.
I need to point out, that I agree with my colleagues from the opposition, whom has made reference to the shortcomings of that the budget.

Hon Speaker, Hon Members, debating our national budget is a waste of time as the debate and inputs will not have an influence on the budget as tabled.

Requests for MP's to be part of the budget process to a certain extent had been ignored, yet it is expected from us, especially the opposition to approve the budget, without pointing out shortcomings.
I previously said, Hon Speaker, hon Members, the hon Minister of his 2018/19 budget speech said the following " It is a budget anchored on the gains of the necessary but difficult decisions which we have taken since 2016, we had to make deep but necessary cuts to ensure fiscal sustainability tRtt(t~e .f#~ C~i1~ PROTECT macroeconomic f'IlY"'IJt....s country is facing difficulties of various form~ such difficu ties sg~Jhdclri/r'io de -A however not be seen as an opportunity to paralyze parliament.
Hon Speaker, Hon Members, Parliament could over the past three years not effectively do its oversight function, due to the deep budget cuts referred to by the Minister of Finance.

stability" We do understand.that ,,'LLiJ)(~ Ofrdfdltrqi-c!

!lvdl D "A(I) 4111111111111:=.... ~------~ 2 instructed by MP's the current budget again shows a huge Hon Speaker, Hon Members, to Committee Services.
decrease with regard to the allocation of various Committee Chairpersons were Committees to urgently address to issue with regard to allocation to Committee Services.

It is clear that such efforts has failed, as indicated in the budget to be approved by us.

Hon Members, all of us complain about the money allocated to the Committees, when in our committee meetings.
Let us for once be bold enough to speak out in this August instead of keeping our silence and House about our complaints complain when in committee meetings.

is required from us to approve this budget and any other national budget for the effective governing the question Hon of Members is, do we know that the budgets approved by us falls short of Article 63 Section 2 (a)?

Or is it that we just approve the budget for the sake of getting rid of it?
and administration the country, It Hon Speaker, hon Members, provision was made for an increase on old age pensions, which we appreciate, however there is an urgent to revisit the amounts for social grants.

This amounts has remained the same for some years now.

tax reforms are appreciated, Hon Speaker, Hon Members, the reforms are however re-active rather than pro-active.

The idea of the NEEEF Bill as an instrument to promote economic empowerment will have a negative effect for direct investments.
The 10% tax on dividends and taxation of religious and charitable institutions are also concerns.

let me once again remind this August Hon Speaker Hon Members, the resettlement programme has failed the masses of House that landless indigenous peoples of this country, as it continue to benefit the selected elite.

It is clear that government is adamant to put through its efforts to allocate land to the elite before the second land conference.

Further- more the mass housing programme has also failed.
Research as has explanation for the mismatch between the demand and supply of housing in Namibia.

Across the country houses build under the mass stands vandalized and without occupants, has housing programme communication stakeholders highlighted between poor 3 houses meant for low income groups become inaccessible to them, but easy to get to middle income earners instead, Hon Speaker Hon Members, housing is a human right, and in order to have a house you first need to have land.
Most local authorities use land prices and the costs in servicing of land as an excuse to avail land to developers at the cost of the poor and low income groups.

Land prices had been inflicted by those who can afford it, and nothing has been done to attend to the problem at hand.

Across the country huge portions of urban land is made available at high cost to generate income for local authorities instead of using funds generated for the servicing of land.
Landless people has grown into beggars as they, on a daily basis seek help from local authorities without success.

their running expenses to cover Hon Speaker, Hon Members, Namibia has become a nation of informal settlements, in short squatter camps.

Hardap Region is presently cited as the region with the highest number of shacks.

About 52% of households in the Hardap Region, consist of shacks.
To avail urban land to the masses has become a challenge all over the country, and will remain a challenge as political will to attend to the issue is lacking.

This failure has resulted in land grabbing, which again resulted in chaos and in death sometimes.

the developers Hon Speaker, Hon Members whist the poor is begging for a piece of are making the deals, and we the politicians land, speculating with land in urban areas, making sure that we are covered.
I am not saying that we should not become involved in business, no.

Yes we have a right to do business, my question is just, should we not first think about the landless and advice where necessary instead of helping ourselves.

the United People's Movement has over the Hon Speaker, My Party, to give urgent attention to the past seven years, requested government it seems that lack of affordable, standard land to the poor.

However, this issue is not taken seriously.


Our people are tired of waiting for urban land, and is forced to squat in backyards, pay high rent, which 4 in terms of existing legislation, advances only the high income earners, and therefore demand land registered in our names or at least provide us with a permission to to allow us to erect occupy (PTO) permanent structures in our quest to provide decent housing to our families.
When it rains we swim in our shacks, when it's windy its dust all over, even in the food we eat.

For how long should we remain the beggars for land?

Whilst the elite live in their comfort zones.

is doing its best to acquire suitable commercial To conclude Hon Speaker, the Ministry of Land Reform has indicated that Government land for distribution to previously disadvantaged Namibians.
In the light of I would farms allocated presently to the well-connected N amibians, like to request Government 'previously to officially re-visit the word' disadvantaged" as it is clear that the Ministry of Land Reform has no clue what the word means.

Nearly 30 years after independence those who are or were part of Government cannot be classified as therefore has a duty to bring to an "disadvantaged" end this madness.

and Government /I~/Jti;sS.


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