Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698747563014.pdf (Namibia)
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Box 62691 Soweto, Katutura RIIQI[iiIJWIIBI--- Tel: +264612882646 Fax: +264 61 402590 i.hoveka@parliament.gov.na PARLIAMENT OFFICE speech of Budget Riruako, Dr.Kuaima President of Namibia, March Tuesday 2013 26 1 to the budget Hon: Speaker, Dr. Theo Ben Gurirab, and fellow this afternoon to present my MP's I took the floor contribution tabled by Hon: Minister of Finance Sarah Kuugongelwa -Amadhila.
First of all I would like to congratulate her for tabling the budget early as possible to allow enough time for Parliament to deliberate on it.

the untimely Hon: Speaker, before I start with my speech allow me share with this August house and the Namibian people my sadness and shock with this August of house about Hounourable Governor of Omaheke Region Hon.

the Rapama Kamehozu who passed away over weekend.

loss for SWAPO Party, the Omaheke Region and the entire Namibian people.
Unfortunately we cannot undo what the almighty has decided to do.

It is indeed a great passing on the Hon: Speaker, my contribution time will dwell on the following issues that as important deliberations; this I regard to this house to look at during our these are to the budget 1 ~Education ~ Agriculture / Drought ~ Regional and Decentralisation Local Governments / ~ Old age pension and orphans the aim of it must be implemented.
I think the purpose or the Minister tabling the budget early in the beginning of the year is that after approval It is a known fact that communities are on the outcry that there is a delay in the implementation the development projects.

Therefore I would like to call upon the Ministers, Permanents Secretaries and that National Planning Commission to see to it projects are implemented to create jobs and uplift the living standard of our people.
in order of Education the Namibia Hon: Speaker, since the inception of Parliament the Education Sector has been always a priority number one to the Minister of Finance and the Government in 1990, this has become a habit that 2 that that's why the biggest percentage of National goes to Education at the expense of other sector.

our Hon: Minister, Education, every year we are sending thousands of because our our young education the Namibia nation.
people to the streets completely system has has gone wrong with failed I support the concerns raised by the Minister of Education Hon: Namwandi when he said that, the Education sector gets the highest although the fruits from this Ministry leave a lot to allocation, be desired.

The reason, to me Hon: Speaker, is that of having resources, Education standard in rural areas as compared to urban schools will remain just as it was poor before independence.
a scarcity distribution uneven and Hon: Speaker, where does the problem lies?

Is it with the Education System, is it with the Parents, is it with the learners or where is the problem?

Without three fundamental questions, our Education standard will providing answers these to 3 remain as it is even if we allocated the whole budget to this sector.
I hope the new Education Minister Hon: Namwandi will a conducive learning environment by ensuring that learning resources are available in schools libraries by suitably qualified personnel.

be done to address I believe that much more must inherited inequities in the education system so that all in education will eventually benefit the stakeholders from the system.
Agriculture / Drought depends the Namibian or directly their basic existence, Namibia under since then has not agriculture Hon: Speaker, while over 70 % of population on Agriculture indirectly for the SWAPO led government been able to develop a comprehensive policy and strategy to majority of population~ living out make a decent those farming with cattle in rural areas.

their hard work especially 4 i; e-.-cI , Resources allocation to agriculture remains skewed.
Currently the country is facing a drought situation, the but Agricultural vote, how much money will be used to remedy the drought crisis.

direction is no within there clear it is high time that this This is my conviction that August house in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture should come up with a Drought Relief farming communities in rural Fund wish will support and communal areas immediately when drought starts but not after animals and people have died of hunger.
The main contributor to the fund will be the Central Government by putting aside 100 million dollars per financial year whether there is drought or not as a preparation when it is time for drought.

Namibia is rich of virgin land that needs to be developed to be used during drought time.

This is not being done.

5 Government should buy farmers and reserve them only for drought situation to assist during drought to time in different accommodate surrounding communal.

regions.
regions.

Specifically farmers from farmers Hon: Speaker, preparation for drought should not only come from the Government alone, but Farmers Associations and Co-operatives must also create their their own Drought Relief Funds to assist members when time comes.

this Hon : Speaker, for now I would like to request House in consultation with the Ministry of Finance to increase the vote for the Prime in order to assist in the drought crisis we Minister are facing.
the office of Decentralisation Hon: Speaker, let me ask ourselves two questions.

our government constituted makes all our stakeholders' part of the governance process?

Is that it?

Is all feels part of in a manner citizens 6 I think the answer Decentralisation process.

to these questions lies In the to be process in Namibia As long as the decentralisation proved the despite Decentralisation Act having been passed into law years ago, we will never provide sufficient answer to these questions.
elusive, very represented sub-national We passed a law that governance to being represented by Regional and Local Authority Councillors.

thing is that to their The unfortunate these levels of government are not fully equipped in order to bring regions.

Regional Councils has development funds but to go to Central Government they don't have their own budget.

How can they develop their areas?

The masses have lost hope and credibility in then because they promise things which they don't have power over.
to ask for 7 I would like to request our new Prime Minister and incumbent President Dr. Pohamba to look into this matter as a matter of Emergency.

Hon: conclusion Speaker, the Finance Minister again In compliment for increasing the old age pension fund with another N$ 50-00 per month, but my question is what about the orphans.

once I We are criticizing the old age pensions saying they are using their money for their children, but what the allocations to the orphans else can they do if are so minimal.
and vote increase the Minister of Gender Equality to to request I want orphan's this into look contribution from N$ 200-00 to at least N$ 350-00 per month.

The current economic situation in our country does not allow for these orphans to live from N$ 200-00.

With these remarks Hon: Speaker, the appropriation I support bill I thank you.

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