Keetmashoop
Vice President Nickey Iyambo has advised critics within government, who do not agree with government’s developmental policies, to step aside and let patriots remain in government who are committed to implementing the developmental agenda meant to improve livelihoods.
Officially opening the seventh Congress of Associations of Regional Councils at Keetmanshoop earlier this week, Iyambo said people cannot claim to be part of the government team and yet at the same time execute covert or disruptive actions meant to undermine government’s development agenda.
He pointed out that those who are not in agreement with what the government is doing should not try to destroy what government wants to achieve but they should rather step aside and let those with the will to achieve government objectives work in peace.
“If you are not in agreement with the objectives of this government, there is no need for you to become a Trojan horse, be a man or woman of integrity and step aside, to allow the real team members to implement them,” stated the vice president.
Iyambo called on these individuals to stop using the legitimate – but emotive – concerns of citizens, such as the provision of residential land, to try and force a non-existing governance crisis by attempting to dictate how the government of the day should govern.
The vice president challenged those trying to dictate how government should carry out its duties to rather do it by getting a mandate from the Namibian people, saying those who aspire to rule Namibia should follow the democratic channels and compete for such a mandate from the Namibian electorate. “Maybe you could get lucky,” he added jokingly.
Taking aim at the recent June 16 demonstration against the building of the new parliament, organised by the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, he said it is unbelievable that people are protesting over the costs of an imaginary parliament.
“Can you imagine, a group of 1000 youths, including schoolchildren and some failed politicians, have been hyped up to protest against imaginary new parliament costs in Windhoek?” he asked, adding that people should use their common sense and not be misled.
He explained that only N$14 million has been budgeted for the feasibility study of the project. He further explained what a feasibility study is, saying a feasibility study is needed to determine the feasibility or non-feasibility of a project, following the collection of all the information needed for effective decision making.
He then called on all councillors and administrative officers to work with a sense of common purpose to achieve the new administration’s objectives. He reminded them that when President Hage Geingob took office he indicated that a leader cannot achieve a vision singlehandedly, but only through a collective effort in which everyone pulls in the same direction.
He further pointed out that without collective team effort government will not make progress on its declared objectives and this he said is what certain individuals want. “If we pull in different directions we will not achieve our goals, and that’s what some people want. Whether they are influenced by outside forces we don’t know,” he said.
He added that the Geingob administration is a responsible and rational government, which knows its priorities and shortcomings and how to address them methodically and sustainably, without causing chaos. He reiterated that peace should not be taken for granted and called on leaders present to guard against tribalism and anarchy in the country.