Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698833559036.pdf (Namibia)
CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE 2017 APPROPRIATION BILL AS TABLED BY THE MINISTER OF FINANCE BY HON.

CLARA IGOWASES (MP, RP) 24 MARCH 2017 Honourable Speaker Honourable Members Let me take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Finance and his team for the efforts and commitment in preparing yet another Budget.

All of us know it takes a lot of effort and hard work to produce and introduce such a thorough document on time.

Well done and congratulations.


2 And thus in doing so, I wish to commena the government for the pro-poor budget, and more specifically the allocation of 3.3 billion to the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.

Honourable Speaker Honourable Members I would further like to comment and thank our President, Honourable Hage Geingob, for keeping his promises towards our elderly people and once again increasing their old age pension benefit from N$ 1100 to N$ 1200.
He had promised that the elderly would receive an old age pension benefit of N$1200 by ,~ the year 2018.

And I am pleased to see that out of 3.3 billion allocated to the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare 2.4 billion will provide for the old age pension fund.

Honourable Speaker Honourable Members ::c we.


J1c\::..O tvle.>'lt..l l) 1"\ Some of the challenges in the 2016/2017 Financial Year -The SACUcontribution was lower than normal due to the ND 3 billion that we had to pay back to the SACUpool.
- In 2016/17 we also saw an expenditure reduction of about 8% compared to 2015/2016 - That was a reduction of about 14% of the previously budgeted figure for 2016/2017 - We have seen huge escalation in spending in the last 6 years - At 38% of total expenditure, personnel expenditure was larger than normal - The wage bill growth was driven by both number of employees and average wages - Our average wages almost doubled from 2010 to 2016.
- Our wage increases are well ahead of inflation Budget Balance The deficit for 2016/17 was forecast at N$8.2 billion, down from N$9.6 billion in 2015/16.

That means 4.3% of GDP compared to 5.8% in 2015/2016.

3 As a party, we are deeply concerned with the social welfare of our people.
Particularly the poorest of the poor who are unfortunately not in a position to look after their own wellbeing, my contribution today is mostly concentrated and focused on the recently established pilot program of the food bank.

To quote our Honourable President at the establishment of the pilot program, and I quote "It would be preposterous if the government were to build a facility which costs close to N$ 100 million while our people are going to bed on empty stomachs" 1.
We therefore observe from what our Honourable President stated that to build warehouses for all 14 regions will be a very costly exercise.

It is thus more logical that this money to build and maintain these warehouses is rather used for the actual eradication of poverty, and not just to build a structure.

2.

With previous experiences we encountered with drought relief food distributions The following must be observed: 4 a) If not properly managed food may become spoiled in such warehouses.
b) Food within these warehouses may be stolen and otherwise go rrussmg, c) Corruption in the form of nepotism and favoritism has a tendency of sticking out its ugly head in all areas of our society: hand-based distribution offood parcels on the on the ground to beneficiaries therefore carries the obvious danger that beneficiaries may be discriminated against on any of the above grounds I have mentioned.

And sometimes it is even based on political reasons and even tribal and ethnic backgrounds.
These threats honorable members have all proven to be very real problems with the Food Bank and various newspaper reports have confirmed that food is being stolen and that the procedure for choosing to whom food should be allocated is rife with nepotism and corruption.
Honourable Speaker Honourable Member 5 I wish to raise the following questions and concerns in relation to the Food Bank: 1 Why does the government not set up one central office where people may come and apply for the benefit in order for better and proper management of applicants and beneficiaries?

2 Instead of using committees from within the community to determine who should be on the program and who not; the central office will be more qualified to approve applicants based on a predetermined criteria.
Because using people from the same communities who will be beneficiaries to qualify or disqualified people from this community may bring strive and create conflict among community members in the long run.
3 Weighing up all these negative obstacles surrounding the establishment of warehouses and the qualification method currently being used to qualify or disqualify applicants, why does government not introduce a voucher system where approved beneficiaries received vouchers to go buy food at a predetermined chain shop (e.g.

Woermann Brock or Shoprite) of which the government has/may get an agreement for lower prices for these beneficiaries?
6 5 3 Weighing up all these negative obstacles surrounding the establiment of warehouses and the qualification method currently being used to qualify or disqualify applicants, why does government not introduce a ..fbOcC ~l:;qMf ~ I" f voucher system where approved beneficiaries received vouchers to go buy food at a predetermined chain shop of which the government has/may get an agreement from this shop for example woerman brocke.
Honourable Speaker, Honourable members of this August house, fellow Namibians.

HOUSING thereby a direct standards component impact 1.

Research shows an emphasis on housing as a catalyst for growth, and improving welfare decreasing poverty levels.

Therefore housing policy is an interventions, important through with improving and job creation through construction and renovation of houses.
Government housing as a priority for Namibia, it would contribute and poverty allevation.In both to economic development issues in addition, government of anti-poverty on people's welfare health seems well aware of that living conditions, has repeatedly stating that announced general 6 in our colleges and universities.

the delivery of housing.


However, as we discuss issues of for our housing, we need to also look at accommodation Poor many students access to proper and affordable housing can make our young people, especially the girls, vulnerable to behavior that risk of contracting HIV or can increase un planned pregnancies.

their 2.
their 2.

The noble good intention 'technical part' enlarged katutura by former President His to poorest of the Excellency Pohamba to provide shelter poor through mass housing was misinterpreted by N.H.E.

and turned into get rich quick scheme of the elites.
Hence I propose two bedroom houses with roofs, electricity and inside toilets as ceilings, proper basic and extension plans for further two bedrooms on a reasonable big erf.l further propose an expansion of local to be equipped with heavy authorities for service of erven or duty earth moving equipment local line Ministry of RCC, or empowerment to drop the price of government to execute this duty, the local building erven or houses.
to be given 20 houses each to put bread on contractors to build their expensive houses where the government will pay for this income groups houses segment.

Everyone must develop at his/her own pace.

We have different needs.

and again subsidize foreign companies I further propose the lower tables rather that of EDUCATION 7 1.

Education is the mother of all disciplines.

I agree fully that education is a joint national responsibility where we all are called upon to playa part.
As an educator myself, I really highly education value of Education, Culture and Arts and her staff has achieved so far.

The programs and are being implemented gives hope for a brighter is and remains my passion.

the Honorable Minister formulated future.

efforts that that the government for former to lay a firm foundation free Primary teacher the education.

As a about and 2.

I applaud I am Secondary the short comings of the Cambridge concerned I want us to focus on the primary systems of Education.
for our phase of education at this level children.

Let us continue to train graduates and produce more primary don't master basic skills but yet are promoted to the next grade 10 & 12 level.

This until they that Cambridge eventually ends up in the streets, year in and out.

I once of V.T.Cs and skills again call to accommodate training institutions these drop outs and encourage technical drop out at grade system that failed 20% of learners teachers.

Learners the establishment in all 14 regions jobs.


for NATURAL RESOURCES 8 through resources 1.

We are worried about our National that are licenses.

We want E.P.L.

mining exported ownership of our resources.

When are we going to stop this issue where we don't have control over our own and become joint owners from production to resources to sell of E.P.L's?How profit, shares and dividends rather laws that will give a state of 10% to can we incorporate groups.
This will local and mining social empowerment help the government to enable small community projects of SME industrial plight.

TOURISM government forego a full local authorities the involvement of the Namibian tourism sector requires 1.

Tourism is everyone's business.

A sectorial approach to tourism will ensure that Namibia fully reaps its potential from tourism and thus will on return as a country.
from the investment Tourism development of all from traditional parts authorities, to the national government.

We all know that our beautiful, majestic country is an attraction to many tourists.

Tourism in Namibia is a major industry.

Contributing N$ 7 billion to the country's gross domestic product.

Annually nearly one million travelers visit Namibia.

Tourism in Namibia also had a and rural positive conservation development.
communal 50 than have been established across the country conservancies on resource Some more impact @ 9 covering 11.8 million hectares of land and resulting in enhanced tens of land management, while providina thousands of rural Namibians Wttfi much needed income.

f'Q e.c..- .-t 0 We..v ~ t:.W- S>"""'f HEAL TH SECTOR 1.

We want are closer hospitals numerous to commend Hon.

Dr Bernard Haufiku Minister staff on their of Health & Social Services and competent mega achievements few years.
We have over the past observed magnificent changes in our Health sector.

We have undergoing seen and clinics and health centers are being built renovations at different and villages and thus bringing of towns to the people.

We have seen how the services and epidemics ministry dealt with national pandemics to mention a such as HIV/ AIDS, Malaria, and Polio just few.

Therefore we extend once more our gratitude the Honorable Minister and his entire staff for towards the provision services.
Additionally, we are delighted that Namibia has joined SADC Member States that are implementing a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV and AIDS programme is being It is by the SADC Parliamentary spearheaded pleasing that our Parliament has embraced this SADe PF Project participating in workshops with SRHR, HIV and AIDS challenges especially our young people.

of Parliament to build their capacity of deal facing our people, seen Members and we have of these Forum.
that the demographic If as a country we are to harness dividend that young people present, we must promote full and protect potential.

their health so that they reach their 10 GENDER BASED VIOLENCE 1.

Women of Namibia is subjected to abuse, jobs, killing their partners to go.

Today our news abuse.

We need programs out of frustration to protect rape, brutal murder and landlessness.

Most of our women are living on the outskirts of our towns and deprived of access to descent income or land.
Many of them could not finish school because of factors beyond their control.

Today they live with men who constantly abuse them is full of they have nowhere for women our constant for men who abuse them.

women and heavy punishment they are protected.


On The women need to know that that note I would like to suggest that as a country we take full advantage of the fact that we are the ones hosting the Forum which is of the SADC Parliamentary Secretariat collaborating with other organizations to eradicate GBV.

that as Members of Parliament we fully It is important participate activities.

However, we need support.


Our Civil Society Organizations, United Nations agencies and our institutions of higher education must research and share it with us so that we fully conduct understand what is causing GBV in our country, how much GBV is costing us and how we can stop it.

I know in these the that some research has been conducted.

My feeling is that to be simplified, shortened and made available to SADCPF so that as MPs we can access them.
from that research findings need 11 In conclusion, I wish to the state that we have in front of us a well prepared budget but it goes beyond figure as it will only become tangible to the people when implemented.

We have got a busy year ahead.

We have got Namibians to be pulled out of poverty as a matter of urgency.

And now, we have the budget to make that possible.

Let us not waste valuable time anymore.

Let us all hit the ground running, for the sake of our people and our country.
Honourable Speaker Honourable Members Fellow Namibians I Thank you.