Stefanus Nashama
The leader of the official opposition, McHenry Venaani, says the government is responsible for the mess of poverty increase in the country and that Namibians will demand accountability. He said the Namibian nation is in a state of distress while the specter of poverty continues to haunt the people.
According to Venaani, statistics indicate that poverty rates have remained stubbornly high, piercing the very essence of the Namibian society’s well-being. He mentioned that 51 percent of the population lives in abject and multidimensional poverty.
“We must acknowledge this, and as such, hold the government accountable,” he said.
Vennani made these remarks at the occasion of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) mega rally held in Rundu yesterday.
Panduleni Itula, the leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), last week shared the same sentiments, saying that if Namibia does not exercise extreme caution and if the government does not have a comprehensive strategy, the country will experience starvation.
Itula claimed the suffering of the people is the manifestation of 33 years of failure of the Swapo-led government.
Venaani also said that the country has faced a multitude of challenges that he said should no longer be ignored by the government.He explained that the country has been blessed with fertile lands that if cultivated properly, can yield a cornucopia, striking at the roots of poverty.
“We should turn to our roots, our farming heritage, but with an eye for the future: mechanization, modernization, and innovation should become the cornerstones of the agricultural revolution,” he stressed.
According to Venaani, the solution to the problem of food insecurity in the nation is more than simply providing meals, adding that it ensures the agricultural system caters to the population’s nutritional needs.
He said Kavango Regions have fertile land, and transforming the two regions into a hub of agriculture, will create an ecosystem of growth and sustainability that will place Namibia firmly on the path to self-sufficiency.
Venaani urged Namibians to demand mechanisation to lambast the clutches of poverty in the country.
He also used the opportunity to say that it is not a secret that poverty, inequality, and lack of accessible healthcare are visible challenges faced by the people in the country and they need urgent solutions.
Venaani mentioned that to address the plaguing issue of healthcare, there is a need to galvanize efforts to develop a comprehensive and effective healthcare system, resilient even in the face of the most drastic adversities.
He also noted inadequate access to quality education and the unavailability of decent housing are among the issues that frequently manifest among the people.
“We do not allow these challenges to define us, but rather have them inspire us towards creating effective solutions for our people,” he emphasized.
Contacted for comment, the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka said she does not understand the comments made by Itula and Venaani.
Sioka’s Ministry is responsible for poverty eradication in the country.
