LÜDERITZ – Swapo Party Youth League Secretary General Dr Elijah Ngurare has called on the leadership of the youth to advocate for economic empowerment, saying voters want to see action after 24 years of independence.
Ngurare was speaking at a rally in Lüderitz in the !Nami#nus district on Saturday in an effort to mobilize people to register for the upcoming elections. He called on youth leaders in various districts to work closely with local authority leaders in ensuring that young people register for the upcoming elections. “Slogans sound good, but bread is what the people want. We cannot say viva if empowerment is not trickling down to the people. We as the youth are advocating for youth empowerment, genuine youth empowerment which means we all share the resources of Namibia equitably. You have not seen any coffin buried with millions of dollars so that the owner can access it with an ATM in heaven. We need to share our resources. If there is someone who who can forget us we also know how to forget you,” said Ngurare who joked that even chanting will become an effort if people are hungry. Ngurare went on to say that he sees no reason why foreigners should own land at the expense of Namibians, who fought for the freedom of the country. “There is no price at which you can give land away just like that. Young professionals must own land. If they (foreign investors) come with lots of money (in search of land) than it must be a joint venture. How many black people do you see own land in England, US (United States of America) or Germany? The time has come for us to be free and fearless, there was a time that they said you will chase away investors, but we know that investors are fearless. If they can go to where the bombs are exploding than why will they not come to Namibia that is a peaceful country?” According to Ngurare it does not mean the youth of other politicial parties should not own land.
“Namibia is for all its people,” said Ngurare. He also appealed to youth leaders to work closely with the party’s district coordinator to assist people who not have municipal bills, which is a requirement for registration. “Make sure young people are registered so that Swapo can get 100 percent votes and the opposition zero. Then we can call for real implementation, there should be no excuse over poor sanitation or that the youth in Area 7 are living in squallor,” Ngurare urged, calling on youth leaders in the region to address the social needs of the people in their regions. “We want to see a company that is owned by the SPYL that can create jobs for youths. We want to see in Karasburg in the heart of the Bondelswarts that the economic activities of the Warmbad Hot springs benefit the people of the town. Every other activity must benefit the people. It is senseless to bring people from Mars or Venus. We expect 30 percent of the Neckartal money to go to the people of the district,” said Ngurare.
He also called on the municipality of Lüderitz to write off outstanding municipal debts of residents saying forcing people who cannot afford to pay high outstanding fees is like expecting a tree to produce milk.
By Jemima Beukes