Kuvee Kangueehi
11 April 2008
Windhoek — President Hifikepunye Pohamba has called on the Namibian people not to panic over the unfavourable economic situation in the country and the rest of the world.
Delivering his 4th State of the Nation address in Parliament yesterday, Pohamba said the current economic situation should not be cause for alarm as the country's economic fundamentals remain strong and give strong hope for the future.
Pohamba noted that the current economic situation has caused difficulties for many families as a result of an increase in the prices of basic commodities and services such as food and transport.
Although the President did not give tangible solutions to the economic situation, he noted that the Government is working hard to weather these difficulties.
He said the Government is confident that through prudent macro-economic policies, the Government will bring more prosperity to the Namibian people.
"We must act pragmatically and with reasoned judgment at all times and that is what good leadership is all about."
The President called on the country to use the available opportunities and its comparative advantages to build and re-enforce a stronger foundation for competitiveness and prosperity.
Regarding the high interest rates, the President announced some relief to the emerging farmers. He revealed that Agribank would reduce interest rates on loans to emerging farmers with a view to improving profitability and long-term sustainability of farming operations.
He noted that more Namibians are accessing and utilising the services offered by Agribank to improve their farming operations and during the period under review, more than 350 loans amounting to nearly N$60 million were approved by the bank.
The President put strong emphasis on the youth and said the future of the nation depends on the youth and thus they must be molded to participate actively in the social and economic development of the country.
Pohamba said the pro-youth interventions that are in place must be strengthened and called on the private sector to open their doors to thousands of the youth who go through training of the National Youth Service by offering them employment, apprenticeships and scholarships for further studies.
He informed Parliament about the policies and programmes the Government implemented the preceding year.
Pohamba said the year is characterised by intensified focus by the Swapo Party Government on expanding and improving service delivery in all priority areas.
He said particular attention was given to the plight of orphans and vulnerable children, the youth and school learners, the elderly, war veterans, the San, Ovatjimba and the rural poor.
He added that attention was also given to the provision of better health care, expansion of electricity with special emphasis on rural areas, promotion of sanitation with special focus on semi-urban areas, provision of potable water, and expansion of infrastructure, employment creation and food production.
The President also briefly touched on the new financial year and highlighted some aspects of the 2008/09 Appropriation such as the increase in the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), social grants for the elderly and war veterans.
Pohamba informed Parliament about the shortage and backlog in the provision of adequate and affordable houses.
He noted that during the 2006/7 financial year N$30 million was invested in the construction of new houses, while for the 2007/8 financial year N$76 million was budgeted to build 700 new homes.
He, however, noted that the situation is more critical in rural areas as it has become difficult to acquire building materials for traditional dwellings and where National Housing Enterprises is unable to invest.
The President observed that the current floods have destroyed traditional homes in many communities and innovative ways must be found to prevent the rural communities from becoming homeless.
He said during the period under review, the Government is encouraged by the successes that have been recorded. He said the Government is confident that it can do better, achieve more and improve the performance of the public service in the new financial year and the future.
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