1 September 2008
Windhoek — THE Swanu opposition party has drafted a 10-point plan for solving Namibia's social and economic problems, which Swanu leaders see as a "socialist, transformationist revolutionary approach".
Announcing the 10-point plan on Thursday, Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua said the first point would be for Government to establish an assistance fund for youths looking for jobs.
This should cover internships at companies for schoolchildren at secondary level and for students enrolled at tertiary institutions during vacations.
Unemployed graduates should also be paid transport subsidies from this fund in their quest for work.
Secondly, Swanu demands that education should be completely free up to university level and "adequately funded by the State", Maamberua demanded.
The party calls for a second national land conference, since the first one was held a long time ago in 1991.
"Land transformation for equitable wealth distribution should be revolutionary in nature with tangible and visible results in less than five years," Maamberua told reporters at a press briefing.
Fourthly, Swanu would want to see more agricultural subsidies for farmers and resettlement beneficiaries and Government-subsidised ploughing services for communal farmers.
Point five on the Swanu list is its support for the reparation demand lodged by Herero and Nama leaders against the German government for atrocities committed against their ancestors during the colonial period a century ago.
The party sees reparations as a national issue, since the loss of land and livestock robbed many Namibians of their livelihood, which affects their descendants and the entire nation until today.
"Our position is that Namibians of German descent must get involved in the matter and apologise and then as a gesture of remorse surrender some of their land and then look to the German government to assist them instead of them looking forward to sell their farms at exorbitant prices once Germany gives our Government money for land acquisition and resettlement," Maamberua stated.
Under points six and seven, Swanu urged Government to improve revenue collection from taxpayers and companies and to create more incentives to support poor households and families, since - under Point 8 - "socialism is the best wealth distribution mechanism".
Should Swanu be elected to power, the party would "immediately create a society based on wealth distribution and equal opportunities for all," the party president said.
"Socialism is the only antidote that can cure injustice, exclusion and poverty, which are products of private greed."
Under point nine, Swanu listed more professionalism and enhanced accountability of the security forces, being the Defence Force, Police and Prisons Service.
Lastly, Swanu called for more tolerance, saying democracy in Namibia was "under threat as tolerance for other political opinions is deteriorating".
Maamberua challenged all "capitalist political parties" in Namibia to a television debate to discuss the way forward for the country.
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