Nuusita Ashipala
OSHAKATI – The Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development has shelved the Equipment Aid Scheme as no budget was allocated to it for the current financial year, the deputy minister in the ministry Lucia Iipumbu has said.
“But even if we are not able to spare an allocation it is not the end of the world,” Iipumbu said as she encouraged the youth to work towards creating employment opportunities for themselves.
Iipumbu was speaking with the Swapo youth of Oshana Region at a meeting aimed at deliberating social issues affecting the region, as well as the economic downturn the country faces.
The meeting was also attended by members of the Swapo leadership in Oshana.
The ministry as part of its mandate has provided aid in the form of equipment to SMEs to enable them to effectively run their business and subsequently create employment.
Iipumbu discouraged the youth against handouts and instead encouraged them to create employment opportunities for themselves and others.
She expressed dismay against youth snubbing meetings aimed at crafting development plans but at the same time crying foul about being excluded in crafting plans.
Iipumbu made reference to the absence of the youth in the crafting of the National Development Plan 5 (NDP5) consultative meetings held across the country.
Speaking at the same meeting, the Swapo regional coordinator for Oshana Region Samuel Nelongo said the initiative to gather the youth to deliberate on the economy is a good one to strategise for next year’s elections.
He said the economic downturn the currently faces can be used as a tool by the opposition parties to degrade the ruling party.
“If we do not prepare ourselves in time and disburse the right information then the opposition will blame the party for the ongoing economic situation,” Nelongo said.
He said the youth should work hard towards 100 percent victory for both the party and President Hage Geingob next year.
“We should vote 100 percent for the party and for President Hage Geingob and that should be our only mission and nothing else,” said Nelongo.