Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698831585331.pdf (Namibia)
CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL, 2018 (BUDGET) BY HON OR PEYA MUSHELENGA, MP MINISTER OF URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT National Assembly, Windhoek 27 March 2018 1 Honourable Speaker Honourable Members The year seems to have started on a very bad note, with the departure to eternity of two Members of Parliament and a Former Member of Parliament.

Secondly, climate change appears to have taken its toll, with some areas recording minimum rainfall, while others are affected by floods.
investment in agriculture and subsequent to alleviate the plight of rural farmers, both commercial and Rain is very close to the hearts and minds of farm growth is communal.

Therefore, farmers.

This is particularly true, when important horticulture production is promoted in rural communities.

Accordingly, I commend the increment of the size of the land under irrigation from 14000 to 15000 hectares, financial year.
The which saw horticultural production increasing during the past green schemes that we have in Kavango East region can transform the lives of our rural communities.

The same applies to existing and planes horticultural crop production in Omusati Region, whereby in addition to crop production, there will be value addition to realise various produces.

Encouraging local agricultural production promotes domestic food supply, increased employment and addresses the rate of rural urban migration.
There is an injection in the rural economy and increased lending schemes to finance these service provision in rural communities.

Financial small scale agricultural manufacturing activities should be developed, to ensure growth in this industry, with the ultimate aim of developing agronomic industries on a large scale.

agenda, 1 ~gncultural titled Agricultural development policy, a Wiggins et al.
state in tQji~ublication contemporary infrastructure development are recognised as the three key tools for public spending to ensure I support the planned 40 research projects in the area economic growth.

Accordingly, of water and the construction of 13 earth dams and / or canal for the 2018/19 financial year.

the allocation of N$ 233 972 000 in the 2018/19 financial year for acquisition of capital assets for agriculture and N$ 328 000 000, for water.
I further support education research, and rural development ~uses Honourable Speaker Rural development has gained prominence in today's world.

Crammer, Jensen and Southgate Jr state in their publication titled Agricultural Economic and Agribusiness life in the areas of poverty, that population distribution;tUral housing.

Rural development is more needed among the to alleviate thelr problems and challenges.
These can be addressed by, youth, among others, vocational training, as acquiring skills through this mode of education training is further emjihasiseo in the Harambee Prosperity Plan, as a catalyst for economic growth and I commend the allocation of N$ 136.8 million in the development.

Accordingly, 2018/19 budget for vocational training, which is an increase of well over 200% from .

plfHb.e youth in a good stead to start their businesses.
Vocational on the quality of 2 Wiggins et et., 2015, AgriCUltural development policy, a contemporary Overseas Development Cramer G. L., Jensen C. W., and South gate D.D., 2001, Agricultural Economic and Agribusiness, New York: John Willey and Sons, p 370. agenda, London: Institute, p 22.

2 the N$48.1 from the previous financial year.

This amount , fII/IIIIPI per year in the subsequent two years of the current MTEF period.
// increased to over N$ 500 "fi, !I,'f:V\ The mentioning of vocational training reminds me of an area very close to your heart, Honourable Speaker - Higher Education.

History will never forget the eloquent and in which you made your presentation before the Presidential skilful manner Commission on Higher Education that was appointed after I welcome a total allocation of about N$ 8.3 billion to higher education programmes during the current MTEF period.

A large part of this amount goes to public learning.
These institutions are expected to carry out institutions of higher researches on economic development and growth.

independence.
independence.

I would like to seize this opportunity to commend Professor Lazarus Hangula, Vice the University of Namibia (UNAM), who is due to retire in a few Chancellor of months' time, for the able leade~h~ the past years, which saw ..u~~d~ver the expansion of UNAM with the &me a ult.yof Engineering and Information Technology and the School of Medicine and the transformation of Education Colleges, integrating them in the UNAM Faculty of Education.
This further resulted in the systematic capacity building on the basis of what became known in the UNAM circles as re-engineering, today we have qualified academics at the satellite I call upon his successor, who will be appointed soon, to focus on the campuses.

areas of innovation and research.

Incentives for innovation and research should be institutionalised.
Our academics must be motivated by way of appropriate rewards for the supervision of academic researches, as it happen at other institutionslhigher learning in the neighbouring countries.

that ~ the budget.

Honourable Speaker I welcome the Let me now address macro-economic aspects of introduction of new tax brackets for the high income categories.
I am mindful of the fact that anti-cyclical measures, generally include among others increased spending and cutting taxes during economic recess but, equally, the literature of economics state that public debts compels governments to adopt severe fiscal consolidation measures like, among others, introducing new taxes.
include reducing public expenditure to realise economic growth.3 Measures further The fiscal measures introduced with the budget are meant to realise stabilisation, where the government balance its budget.

In his publication titled Macroeconomics, the Harvard University, Gregory Mankiw," renowned Professor of Economics at stresses that for a strict balanced budget, it is required from the government to raise taxes or reduce spending during recession.
Progressive tax by its nature ensures equity in contributing to national revenue.

increasing tax rates or the Popular Democratic In his contribution to the debate, Hon Nico Smit of Movement (PDM), formerly the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) , stated that the I would like to inform the public wage bill is the major obstacle to economic growth.

3 Bilan I., Ihnatov I., 2015, Public debt and economic growth: a two-sided story, 2015, International Journal of Economic Science, vol.

1v, No.
1v, No.

2, pp 24 - 39, at p 35.

Mankiw N. G., 2016, Macroeconomics (9th ed.

), New York: Worth Publishers, p 573.

3 Honourable Member that the Office of the Prime Minister issued a directive in the previous year that there will be no filling of new positions.

Government should be applauded for the savings that are made from this directive, which is still effective to date.

Honourable Speaker Let me now move to the field of my academic expertise - international relations.

U of SADC.
U of SADC.

This prestigious status This year, Namibia will assume the Chait ' I. comes at a time when the situations in our reQ10n continue to be worrisome, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

With regard to the situation in the DRC, Namibia will be heavily involved, not only as Chair of SADC, but with President Pohamba as SADC's special envoy for the DRC.
The pre-occupation with managing peace and stability for that country and the region at large require resources.

Accordingly, the allocation of N$ 76 437 000, during the current financial year and N$ 261 613 for the current MTEF period, for multilateral relations programmes I support The situation in Lesotho has its roots in the long-standing stand-off between the parties of Prime Ministers Tom Thabane and Pakalitha Mosisili.
In the meantime, is civilians continue to suffer and the country's focus on economic development derailed.

Like other SADC countries, Namibia has spent resources on Lesotho, in her endeavours to contribute to peace-building efforts in the mountainous kingdom.

the As Chair of SADC, Namibia has a task to find a lasting solution and chart roadmap that safeguards against repetitions of dreadful events, a regular norm in that country over the past years.
Peace and stability creates conducive environments for economic development and growth, as human and financial resources will be therefore, continue to jealously dedicated to productive programmes.

We should, guard against disruptive trends in our in the execution of his duties as Chair of SADC.

President Geingob is equal to the task before him and I have no doubt that he will tender the flowers in the regional garden to blossom into a beautiful scene that brings delight and hope to depressed onlookers.
region and support the President let me state that I welcome the orderly and peaceful manner in While on SADC, which the changing of guards took place in Zimbabwe, which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the helms of the Zimbabwean state, in accordance with the laws of that country.

At this juncture, I find it irresistible to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the Zimbabwean struggle for freedom and independence - among them Herbert Chitepo and Josiah Tongogara.
May their legacy continue to prevail in the land of Monomotapa as it strives to rebuild its economy that have been plagued by the sanctions imposed by the countries of the West.

President Mnangagwa belongs to the club of freedom fighters in southern Africa and the past years.

He will, has served his government integration and conflict thereforE?

add value to SADC programmes of resolution and make meaningful contributiorf to peace-making efforts on the continent.
Like Namibia, Zimbabwe is among the countries that have consistently in various capacities over regional 4 and persistently supported the cause of the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic for the Republic.

All progressive statesmen and women should continue to call implementation of the UN resolution that calls for a referendum in Western Sahara without further delay.
Honourable Speaker, Last year, the US President stated that he recognises Jerusalem the capital city of Israel, drawing criticism from various quarters of the state of the world.
the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution "Status of Subsequently, Jerusalem", in which it underscored the right of the Palestinian people to sovereignty and self-determination, declaring that the wall and settlements being constructed by in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, Israel law.
All states are expected, without exception, to uphold are contrary to international international law whose flagrant violation by known entities have unfortunately reached a level of obsession.

I recall with distaste when the Israeli authority refused the South African Minister of Higher Education, Honourable Blade Nzimande a visa to visit the State of Palestine, in April 2015.
The Minister was to follow up on an education agreement between South Africa and Palestine signed during the visit of the Palestinian President His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, to South Africa in November 2014.5 This reminds us of the behaviour of the apartheid South African regime which refused visa and even declared persona non grata progressive men and women of international standing, I commend the stance of the who wanted to visit or were residing in our country.

Namibian government people.


in their unwavering support of the cause of the ~ f"~ __ if Honourable Speaker It will be amiss of me, I do not state anything regarding current US-Cuban relations.

The current US administration appear to have gone back to the previous years of strained relations.

As of October last year (2017), the number of US visitors following a travel warning by the State Department.
Further, the to Cuba reduced, Department of State announced at the beginning of this year that the staff at the US embassy in Havana will be reduced, which marks further degrading of US Cuba relations that were built during the tenure of President Barak Obama.

Analysts state that with the current relations, the US diplomatic presence in Cuba will be weaker than at any time following the opening of the US Interests Section in Havana in 1977, during the tenure of President Jimmy Carter.
Yours truly recently visited the land of Fidel Castro in the company of the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who expressed our solidarity and support to the people of Cuba to continue with courage and revolution.
Our determination in their noble cause to defend the gains of relations with Cuba and our support for their cause remain cemented in the historic ties established during the cause of the Namibian liberation struggle and the post- independence sound diplomatic relations established in March 1990.

Last year, their Embassy of the State of Palestine, 2015, Press Release, ref.

103/100/15, dated 24 April 2015, Pretoria: Embassy of the State of Palestine.

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5 former Namibian students in Cuba joined the Cuban nation in celebrating 40 years of solidarity with the progressive people of the world characterised by the provision of education, both at secondary and tertiary levels.
This year, we will commemorate 30 years of the Battle of Quito Cuanavale, where the armed military wing of SWAPO, the People's Libilatio}} h,mly of Namibia, fought alongside the Angolan and Cuban Armed Forces _~ffiEtapartheid South African colonial forces, resulting in South Africa agreeing to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978, which paved the way for Namibia's independence.
The heroic sacrifice as well as the solidarity and support of Cuba to the Namibian cause is a gesture that shall for ever remain highlighted in the books of Namibia's history.

I am repeating my previous assertions made on this Against rostrum and elsewhere that terms the US economic embargoes without any fear, reservation or apology whatsoever, against Cuba.
I, Peya Mushelenga, condemn in the strongest this background, With these words, financial year 2018/19, and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2018/19 2020/21 the Appropriation Bill appropriating money for the - I support I thank you.