By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK About 150 local and international experts on poverty and unemployment are expected to meet in Windhoek for a three-day conference that will look at Poverty Reduction, Unemployment and Entrepreneurship. Seventeen years after the country’s independence, Namibia’s poverty and unemployment situation remains bleak and depressing. The first ever conference to be attended by people from regional governments and non-governmental organisations in Namibia, among other stakeholders in the fight against poverty, will provide a balanced and factual account of the state of poverty in the country. Organised by the A-Z Events Management Company on behalf of the Centre for Training and Projects Development, the conference, to be held under the theme “Entrepreneurship: An Alternative Source to Employment and Entrepreneurship Development” will take place from May 28 to 30, 2007. Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr Albert Kawana will on behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba officially open the conference. According to one of the conference directors Fred Simpungwe, discussions will cover issues pertaining to the state of unemployment in Namibia. “We have assembled speakers from all walks of life representing different organisations, both local and international. These are the United Nations, Government, the business community and experts on poverty and unemployment,” Simpungwe said. Other participants will come from the civil, academic, diplomatic and entrepreneurial worlds. Topics to be discussed include the state of poverty in Namibia, unemployment trends and statistics, roles of regional councils, municipalities, churches in entrepreneurship development and employment creation, entrepreneurship and self-employment as a means of poverty reduction, women empowerment and the relationship between poverty and HIV/AIDS. Simpungwe told New Era that the conference will explore and present possible avenues of solving the problems of poverty, promote the culture of entrepreneurship and business development as a means of poverty alleviation and employment creation, and inculcate a culture of social responsibility and awareness among Namibia’s entrepreneurs and business people. Even though statistics show that poverty has been on the decrease over the last 10 years, the problem still poses a threat to the socio-economic fabric of society. Conversely, the unemployment rate has been on the increase in the country, hence the need for public discourse on the subject. “If poverty is not tackled, the problem is that the rich will continue failing to sleep because they want to protect their wealth while the poor will continue hunting for food because their stomachs are empty,” said Simpungwe. He added that stakeholders have realised that with the growing unemployment rate, poverty can not be underestimated. Government has put in place measures aimed at boosting the entrepreneurship industry, but according to Simpungwe, there are many challenges potential players in this industry face. He said lack of information, skills and capital are the most prominent obstacles. “I hope that after the conference, we as the Namibian nation will be in a better position to understand and comprehend the challenges of unemployment and poverty and how to best address those challenges,” said Tonata Shiimi. Both upcoming and established entrepreneurs will be able to understand their roles and responsibilities and be in a position to contribute significantly to alleviate the socio-economic challenges of Namibia, he added. Recommendations will be forwarded to government and relevant stakeholders for implementation. Global Call Against Poverty (GCAP) Ambassador for Namibia Bishop Zephania Kameeta says poverty continues to stick its ugly head in the Namibian society. He believes Namibia will not succeed in fighting another social problem – HIV/AIDS – if matters pertaining to poverty are not addressed. He regards poverty and HIV/AIDS as two different sides of the same coin. He also called on civil society, government and other interested parties to join hands and work coherently against this problem. “It’s time we urgently convened a conference against poverty. Government is doing its part and so is the civil society but the scandal of poverty demands working together,” he said. Kameeta expressed disappointment about the uncaring attitudes of many Namibians, saying it is time people started being concerned about one another. To those he described as “being good at guarding their pockets with a gun”, Kameeta pleaded for a spirit of sharing between the rich and the poor. The second GCAP Ambassador for Namibia Veronica de Klerk said, “Poverty is hunger, poverty is lack of shelter, poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor, poverty is not having a job, it is fear for the future, living one day at a time…”. In support of Kameeta, De Klerk said that poverty is a call to action not only for the poor but for the wealthy as well. She believes: “It is an urgent call to action, to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat or can have shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence and to have a voice to address the injustices against the voiceless.” Disturbing signs of poverty are showing in many people who are slowly losing their grip on life insofar they accept their poverty as the norm about which “nothing can be done”. “Everybody can make a difference – join hands in rising to the challenge of identifying the numerous barriers which are keeping us poor and under-developed,” De Klerk said.