• 2030 deadline for water security • FIMA on the backburner • Greater benefit from oil, gas • Land applications to be expedited
With less than 25 months left before the next general elections, Swapo recently set its sights on reasserting its dominance on the local political scene, eyeing a raft of targets to be realised by then.
Chiefly, the resolutions taken at
the just-ended seventh ordinary congress cover a variety of areas, including youth empowerment, employment-creation, water and food security, ownership of the country’s mineral resources, and the construction of several district hospitals across the country.
These details are contained in the draft resolutions of the congress. Moreover, the former liberation movement directed the government to put on hold the Financial Institutions
and Market Act (FIMA) and related regulations “because in its current form, it will negatively affect the image of the party. It must be referred back to parliament for further consultations”.
Earlier this year, a public uproar greeted the draft regulation on the compulsory preservation of pension funds’ capital upon termination of pension fund membership before the retirement age. The implementation of the regulations was hastily shelved indefinitely.
The party also decided to direct government to incorporate a local
content policy in the Minerals Act.
Congress further resolved that “Swapo directs the government through the Ministry of Mines and Energy to speed up the finalisation of the local content policy in the oil and gas industry, and incorporate it into the Petroleum Act to ensure that oil and gas are landed in Namibia before they are exported.”
This should be done in the next five
years.
There are long-term goals, too.
“That the Swapo Party directs the government to define and classify mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, platinum and oil, amongst others, as strategic minerals, and to be used for national development and the establishment of national reserves (like gold reserves),” reads a section of the report.
Two major oil discoveries by TotalEnergies and Shell were made during the first quarter of 2022 offshore Namibia. The importance of the discoveries lies in the massive amounts of recoverable resources, which has renewed interest in exploration activities in the region.
The ruling party also resolved to directly set up a national youth fund under the National Youth Council (NYC) to increase access to funds for youth development innovation and business ventures.
Water and land
In the next five years, Swapo wants to accelerate the supply of potable water to rural communities through, amongst others, having a drilling rig in each region, excavating three earth dams per constituency, and expanding water supply infrastructure networks in all regions.
The ultimate goal is to realise water security by 2030.
On the land delivery front, Swapo wants to implement at least 75% of the resolutions taken at the second national land indaba in 2017.
“Swapo directs the government through local authorities to accelerate the formalisation of informal settlements, and deliver more land by implementing on the basis of the Cabinet resolution/presidential decree declaring informal settlements a national emergency/disaster,” reads another section.
Meanwhile, Swapo wants government to develop a comprehensive housing subsidy scheme for all Namibians, with or without an income, as a long-term solution to the housing crisis.
Namibia’s housing backlog is estimated to be around 300 000, and statistics show that 40% of Namibians live in informal settlements.
The ruling party then resolved that the waiting period for agricultural land should be shortened to three months.
The government must likewise implement a targeted agricultural empowerment programme for youth, women, marginalised communities and the veterans of the liberation struggle.
Health
In addition, the governing party resolved that the implementation of universal health coverage be achieved in Namibia before 2030. In the short-term, the congress directed government to mobilise resources for the construction of the planned Khomas district hospital.
In the long-term – without specifying – Swapo moved to direct government to also solicit funds for the construction of
district hospitals in Otjiwarongo, Ondangwa and Nkurenkuru.
Brand
Swapo furthermore wants to beef up its communications department through the appointment of a full-time spin doctor or public relations officer (PRO), and the establishment of a permanent communications centre.
The PRO will deal with the party’s daily communications, including ensuring its social media footprint.
In recent times, communication lines between the ruling party and the Presidency have been blurred, with President Hage Geingob mostly opting to use presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari to address internal Swapo matters, instead of official party communication instruments at his disposal.