Stefanus Nashama
INDEPENDENT Patriots for Change (IPC) leader, Panduleni Itula has blamed the Swapo led administration for the lack of public service delivery.
He argued that the Swapo led government had failed to deliver on its pledges and had not addressed the country’s pressing concerns.
Itula confronted the government during his past week’s ‘trip exploring the Ohangwena region, where he pointed out government flaws and failures since independence.
Itula told a crowd in Ohangwena last week that government owes the Namibian people an apology for the Fishrot Scandal, which involved Swapo Ministers, Sackeus Shanghala and Bernhardt Esau.
He explained that the Fishrot saga has left many Fishermen jobless and in agony, which has led to stress related deaths of the jobless Fishermen.
He remarked that no Swapo-led government leader stepped forward to apologise to the Namibian people for this mistake.
Itula said he has watched war veterans living in suffering, and most of whom having not received the promised N$50 000.
“With no school and having spent half their lives fighting for Independence, in a war they fought under harsh conditions, fighting tirelessly in the sun and rain, the selfless people who were fighting in the bush, with scary marks on their faces, are now told by the government to do projects as if they went to school,” he said.
Itula, a war veteran, wondered where military veterans would get knowledge and abilities to complete specific undertakings if they were simply fighters.
Itula pointed out that the Swapo led government is insulting war veterans, those who fought for the freedom that all Namibians now enjoy.
However, last month, the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, told Windhoek Observer that many acknowledged war veterans with registration numbers have received N$50 000 in addition to other social handouts they receive after being granted with registration numbers.
Simultaneously, Kapofi acknowledged that some combat veterans are suffering, but he stated that government is working relentlessly to determine how it can assist them.
Itula highlighted that government has never established a hospital in Windhoek, where many inhabitants have lived owing to a lack of critical facilities, since independence.
Just a few days ago, people in Zambezi region, among other regions, expressed great worry about the absence of service delivery in clinics and hospitals, as well as a shortage of healthcare facilities and doctors, while many young people with medical skills are staying at home.
Itula said he has seen widespread unemployment in Namibia while traveling through the country, particularly among young people.
“Many young people completed their studies, have degrees and master’s degrees, but they cannot find work. Instead, they are aimlessly wandering the streets,” he remarked.
Itula’s comments comes after, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Parliamentarian, Inna Hengari’s appealed to President Hage Geingob to consider declaring unemployment a State of Emergency.
Unemployment in the country also resulted in the first-ever chaotic situation in which unemployed young people and graduates agreed to hold a countrywide peaceful demonstration against unemployment on March 21, the country’s historic day of Independence.
As a result, some young activists were imprisoned for holding a protest on Independence Day.
Itula also discussed the lack of medication in government facilities and the scarcity of water in the country, particularly in rural areas where people do not have access to portable water. Itula stated that when visiting the country, he realised that the entire country, particularly the Kavango region, is moaning due to poverty.
“Poverty is a major problem in this country; people are hungry and striving to make ends meet,” he said.
According to media reports, many people rely solely on social grants, which are insufficient to handle their problems, and government has been encouraged to expand and reform the social grants system.
Meanwhile,Gender Ministry Executive Director, Martha Mbombo told this publication a few weeks ago that current reports show that poverty has decreased dramatically.
Mbombo also stated that the Ministry is undertaking anti-poverty measures. However, Itula mentioned that some schools in the country lack chairs, forcing students to sit on the floor during lessons.
He noted that the country requires highways for networking as well as a variety of other infrastructures.
Itual requested government to investigate these pressing issues and find potential answers.
