Lukato promisesN$5 000 pension grant

Lukato promisesN$5 000 pension grant

Rudolf Gaiseb

National Democratic Party (NDP) president Martin Lukato Lukato has promised to increase the pension grant to N$5 000 once elected.

“The current amount is nothing. NDP will provide
N$5 000 for senior citizens because they work for this country. Why should we insult our senior citizens by giving them peanuts? If the resources of the country are managed well, we are not going to suffer. Currently, the NDP is not in power. We are outside, but our focus is straightforward,” said the politician.

Currently, pensioners receive a monthly grant of N$1 400. 

He said the increase will be effected only if the electorate votes NDP into power in the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections, slated for November this year.

Lukato made the remarks on Monday during a press briefing in Windhoek.

The politician also touched on health matters, stating that the party researched the matter. 

“According to the NDP research, it was found that most of our patients die on their way to hospital. Therefore, NDP will establish more hospitals, so doctors do not have to refer patients to the capital city or Oshakati. But all regions should be equipped with those hospitals, doctors and nurses,” he said.  He said there is a lack of government health facilities, and some graduates prefer to go to the private sector to pursue salaries and opportunities. 

He added that the current government must implement long-term solution, as suggested by activists and the public.

“The government must not wait for petitions and demonstrations by activists to do things they are supposed to do on their own, and in the interest of Namibian people,” said Lukato.

The politician further said: “I don’t hate any political party, including the Northern Party, Swapo. I am a man of principles. They have to consolidate us, as stakeholders. They have to consult all Namibian people so that we must agree that the laws and resources benefit all Namibians… There are laws that cripple Namibians, and leave them in dire situations. We will abolish and amend those laws,” he noted.

The seasoned politician said to have fair elections this year, he would like to have the United Nations as watchdog.

“The only time we had fair elections in this country was in 1989. The rest have always been rigged,” he said. 

The party’s national mobiliser, Aloys Modise, said “the party plans to introduce and create a levy system, then your talent can also be used as a source of work because not all people are nine-to-five employees… For instance, we leverage the rich. Every product they are buying is going to be levied. A commission or a body should be allocated to collect these levies as taxmen collect from the Namibian workers and companies. Poor Namibians can be funded and sourced from these levy systems,” he said.

Modise said the party is prepared to ensure the country’s resources are utilised effectively.

“We are going to train Namibian people so that they become experts,” he said. 

–rrgaiseb@gmail.com