Easy access at the tip of your fingers, subscribe to our daily ePaper version of our New Era Newspaper.
Home / War against poverty can be won – Deputy Prime Minister
War against poverty can be won – Deputy Prime Minister
2015-08-28Staff Report 2 by Matheus Hamutenya Kosis It is up to each and every individual in Namibia to ensure that the fight against poverty is won, says Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. She asked Kosis residents what their contribution will when she addressed a packed hall at Kosis settlement in the //Kharas region last Saturday. “What role will you play as a Namibian to make sure nobody is left out? That is your challenge,” she noted. Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised the importance of unity in the fight against poverty, saying that all Namibians from all walks of life should personalise the fight against poverty and that every single person has a contribution to make. She also called on every one – including school children, teachers and parents – to make little contributions that will ensure poverty eradication in the long run, stressing the fact that government alone cannot win the fight against poverty, as it is a huge task that requires a multifaceted approach and input from everyone. The deputy prime minister also urged Namibians to put hands and heads together as a united nation in order to win the battle against poverty. “Poverty is the biggest enemy for any country, thus it’s important for each individual to take part in order to defeat it,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah further stressed the need for peace above everything else, so that development in the country can continue unimpeded, saying that you can’t fight poverty when there is no peace, as peace is a pre-requisite for sustainable development. She addressed the drought situation in the country, saying that about 500 000 people need food support and government would do its best to provide for the needy people, but she urged individuals to contribute in any way they can to make sure people in need are fed. She added it is also up to individuals to be honest and say if they don’t need help from the drought relief programme, because they are able to survive from their savings. She argued that doing so is a contribution in itself as it would ensure that the most vulnerable people benefit. She urged those responsible for the coordination of the drought relief programme to ensure that the people who need food assistance most are not left out, and not to use dirty tricks that may hinder the fair distribution of the food. “Namibia has enough for all of us, we just need to learn to share,” she said. The delegation, comprising of the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Tjekero Tweya, Mines and Energy Minister Obeth Kandjoze, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Minister Bishop Zephania Kameeta and Deputy Minister of Land Reform Bernadus Swartbooi, was on a familiarisation tour of the region. 2015-08-28Staff Report 2
