Katima Mulilo
The Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Doreen Sioka, says government should consider increasing tax on business people whenever they increase the prices of commodities they trade in.
Sioka made the remarks recently at Ngoma in the Zambezi Region, where she was addressing community members residing close to the Ngoma border post.
According to Sioka, the escalating prices of food, particularly maize meal, have a negative effect on the community.
“The issue of a free market is worrisome – when they hear that there’s drought they increase the prices of commodities. When they hear that the pension grant has been increased they also increase prices,” noted Sioka.
Sioka stressed that the only solution will be for government to control prices, and see to it that whenever businesses increase prices government also increases the tax they pay.
“Business people should be taxed heavily so that they feel the pain our poor people are feeling. Why should they make our people suffer, while they should play a part in poverty eradication?” she said.
Sioka acknowledged that people who are residing close to the borders are now resorting to buying maize meal from neighbouring countries due to the unreasonable prices in Namibia.
“It’s not fair that our people have to go buy maize meal in Zambia or Botswana.”
She also called on community members particularly pensioners and those who are receiving grants for their children not to misuse the money.
“Government is giving you this money to help you, not for you to misuse it,” she said.
She encouraged community members who are taking care of vulnerable children, or parents who are all unemployed, to re-gister their children for them to receive grants.
“Go and register your children so that you start receiving these grants,” said Sioka.
The parents of children under the age of 18, who are unemployed or earn less than N$1 000 per month, are entitled to receive N$200 per month from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare for each child.
The minister however acknowledged the money is not enough and that government is considering increasing it.
“I have been talking to the minister of finance about this issue, and I can say we had a positive discussion and very soon we might see the maintenance grant increased,” promised Sioka.
Sioka was recently in the Zambezi where she had several meetings with people residing close to the border, addressing them on gender issues, human trafficking and other pertinent matters.