Rose-Mary Haufiku
PRESIDENT of the National Democratic Party Martin Lukato says the masses continue to cry for change since independence, but nothing is changing.
Lukato said this during a wide-ranging interview with New Era in response to the recent demonstrations by the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement and Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) party supporters after counterfeit goods were destroyed by the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) officials, while shops at Chinatown are allowed to operate with counterfeit products.
“They (AR and NEFF) took action to respond to the suffering of the masses. The ministry of labour, starting from the minister, deputy minister, inspectors and directors, failed to do their responsibility,” he told New Era.
Lukato then proposed that the relevant ministry’s officials be reshuffled.
Referring to oil exploration underway in the Kavango region and oil discovered offshore Namibia, he said his party does not have any objection to the search for oil, saying the oil can benefit the country.
“If consultations are done properly with the people from the Kavango regions, and if they come into agreement, then it’s fine.
“The offshore oil can benefit the country and the people, but if it is not well managed, the country can lose millions and millions of dollars. The NDP proposes that the government train experts to add value to resources in Namibia.”
Furthermore, Lukato said the NDP remains committed to fight for better living conditions for the entire Namibian nation.
“Let me promise that as freedom fighters fighting for better living standards of Namibian citizens, the NDP will not retreat but will fight ever forward in the battle as volunteer politicians,” he said.
It is for this reason, that the party formulated a federal system.
“That’s why, since the formation of the NDP in its constitution and manifesto, we have adopted the federal system to accommodate all citizens equally.”
Such a system will ensure free education from pre-school to tertiary level, and this should be implemented as soon as possible, according to Lukato.
Also, to be executed and implemented immediately, is the 40 resolutions agreed on at the second land conference that took place in October 2018, he said.
Lukato also proposed that the inspector general of the Namibian Police, the commissioner general of the correctional services, and the chief of the Namibian Defence Force should all be on a rotational basis in order to accommodate all ethnic groups in Namibia. They should serve for five to 10 years before being transferred to another assignment within the government to accommodate all ethnic groups in Namibia who meet the merit requirements and academic qualifications, he said.
“All heads of ministries and parastatals shall serve for a period of five to 10 years at the same station before being transferred to different regions or stations.”
Lukato noted that under the federal system, the government of national unity would include all properly registered political parties.
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