Opposition politicians and political analysts yesterday criticised finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi’s budget speech, claiming the budget is not pro-youth and that young people were invoked by Shiimi as rhetorical agents to expedite appeals in the political theatre.
Shiimi tabled the 2022/23 national budget under the theme ‘Reimaging, a Better Future for the Youth’.
He said he consulted the youth, business community, organised labour representatives, professional bodies, various political parties, civil society, regional authorities, and the various ministries and government agencies.
He said the country’s youthful population remains the most significant resource, which could propel the economy onto a competitive and sustainable growth path.
“I believe our youth are indeed the lifeline of our economy. In light of this, I have decided to dedicate my budget speech today to the youth of Namibia,” the finance minister said.
Political commentator and University of Namibia (Unam) lecturer in Rhetorical Studies and English Gerson Sindano
said the restrained budget tabled by Shiimi is pro-public safety and order but not pro-youth.
“The youth are invoked by the finance minister as rhetorical agents to expedite appeal in the political theatre. Generally, the minister tabled a budget that is structurally the same with the 2021/2022 national budget, except for the few changes: a slight increase in the fund allocated to sports,” he said.
Sindano said despite the allocation of funds to the Development Bank of Namibia, young people are still struggling to meet the stringent requirements from the bank (collateral or loan security).