Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698832890255.pdf (Namibia)
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Box 81341, Olympia, Windhoek; Tel/Fax: +264 61255973; Fax2 E-mail: 088615773 Email: rdpparty@iway.na; Website: www.rdp.org.na Contribution to the Appropriation Bill for 201312014 by Honorable Minister of Finance, Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila Honorable Speaker, HonorabJe Members of this August House, By Honorable Agnes Limbo 27th March 2013 On the outset Amadhila for the timely tabling of the 2013/2014 Appropriation Bill.
let me congratulate the Minister of Finance, Honorable Saara Kuugongelwa- My contribution distribution and household food security.

to the general debate focuses on unemployment, poverty, housing, land In her speech, the Minister has indicated that our economy has maintained annual average growth she has accepted that rates of unemployment and poverty remained high.

I am quite sure she would still be accurate had she opted to say that poverty and unemployment have deteriorated during the past ten years.
five percent over the same time, ten years.

the past At the country, we, Having admitted that poverty has worsened among our communities throughout as law-makers should agree that the majority of our people have not benefitted from the economic growth and thus, they are not in position to secure basic needs such as housing and food.
We are all witnesses to the mushrooming shanty structure on the peripheries of all our major cities and towns where many people are surviving by scavenging at dumpsites where the affiuent few throw away waste.

It is also logical to conclude that wide-spread poverty makes it extremely difficult for individuals and families to cease opportunities because of lack of access to information and the requirements are just out of their reach.
It is needless to say that people find it even harder to acquire land as a means of production.

Even those that are lucky to get resettled by the government can hardly Instead, some simply hire it out to the rich, afford to develop it due lack of skills and capital.

including the previous owners, In other words, resettlement without skills and capital is meaningless.

in exchange of money.

1 tl~e tiny plots for housing development.


..USb pI6iits by=tbeleeal With regard to, #lpd for housing, we continue to observe that despite the vastness of the land, muruclpahtles~cate pmG!"

f is that the moti ve behindthis allthfJrities wbe }oH)}"?been auctioning plots to ~Ie detrilnent peOj3!e Villa fife lle'ilr9file~iRg.
In this regard, I am quite sure that many people who have been lucky enough to acquire plots or houses at exorbitantly high prices will continue to carry the though burden of paying off their debts for small houses built on these tiny plots.

It is heartening, to learn that, of late, the auctioning of residential plots has been abolished, hopefully country- wide.
As much as we appreciate this latent decision, we feel that the majority of our people are already affected for the rest of their lives.by Ihs cost of Reusing.

~ The above pictnre points at a government failure to address the aspirations of the people as promised before and immediately after independence.

Twenty-three years down the road, we are still talking about the old challenges as if we are not the same people who presided over the sorry conditions currently facing our people.
the way forward, we are most likely to find ourselves in the same or worse sitnation five years from now.

If we fail again to pause and think deeply about I pleased to note here that for the first time, all of us appear to be in agreement when it comes to social problems afflicting our communities.

That in itself is an achievement and at the same time, it is the clearest sign that we will seek wod::i>ifl, solutions together as a team.
Having said this, I would like to support the colleagues who have identified possible solutions such as value addition For us realize this, we need to train our people in the to all our minerals, relevant including If we are committed to this vision, we should be industrialization as envisaged by Vision 2030. doing the right things over the remaining 17 years, otherwise, we'll be remembered in futnre only as people who were here to talk and enjoy themselves at the expense of the future generations.
fields which are responding to the development needs of our country, fish and livestock.

that this nation has bright citizens who can make meaningful contribution We should also admit towards the development of Namibia if and when given opportunities and necessary support to play the roles.
Furthermore, housing, as a human rights issue, should be treated with utmost should also In this regard, government urgency and commitment consider subsidizing serviced land and make it available for housing development in all viable towns.

As a matter of national priority, all the relevant ministries should come up with a training should be programme accompanied with capital support in order to ensure that resettled families become self-reliant and suppliers of food rather recipients of drought relief.
resettled crop and livestock farmers.

by the local authorities.

This programme targeting all It is only when our priorities are put right that unemployment, poverty and all the attendant social ills will be the thing of the past.

I would like to urge the implementors of this budget In conclusion, and programmes are executed effectively and efficiently as planned.

to make sure that all projects I rest my case.

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