Vimbai Karumazondo
24 November 2009
Windhoek — Congress of Democrats (CoD) President, Ben Ulenga, says it is high time the country moves beyond poverty and ignorance to the other side where prosperity can be achieved.
Speaking at the party's last star rally over the weekend in Katutura, Ulenga said for 20 years, people in Namibia have been electing and mandating the Swapo Party to do specific tasks. However, the day of reckoning will be on November 27 and 28 when the people will vote again, he said.
"Swapo said education will be free and nothing came through for 20 years," said Ulenga, adding that the education system has seen more Grade 10s out of classrooms.
He stressed that education is where the Government has failed the Namibian people, who have had to struggle to be free, and that Swapo should answer why they didn't do what they were mandated to do.
"Let us find out why they were failing and where the money was going. They were putting money into pockets, building state houses, families and houses. Money should be applied where it should and we are going to prioritise education to make sure young people can live and perform jobs and prepare for the future," he said.
"CoD stands for free education. Young people should be taken through school at both primary and secondary and the initial levels of university."
Ulenga stressed that not only is education a priority, but also health, adding that medical aid systems should be developed and enhanced so that every family can be taken care of at minimum costs.
"We need to make sure there is enough medication and for the last 20 years when you go to hospital, medicine has been becoming less and less and when you complain of either a back ache or any other complaint, Panado is what you were given," said Ulenga.
He added that health is an expensive commodity and that medication and doctors should be made readily available.
Ulenga said that Namibia is rich with natural resources. "Why must our minerals be processed elsewhere, why not do it ourselves? Until such a point, people will continue to be unemployed," added Ulenga.
The CoD president brought to the attention of supporters present that Namibia is a country where there is the widest gap between the rich and the poor. Ulenga feels developing the country should be done now and not in 2030 as envisaged by the current government.
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