The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has placed the economy, land, education, health, LGBTQI+ rights, abortion, climate change and international conflicts at the centre of its policy formulation as it charts a new future for Namibia.

Also at the heart of its ongoing policy conference is placing the current official opposition party as a governing political formation in waiting.

“Tomorrow’s dynamic societies, less governable by the old methods of command and obedience, may set and achieve both individual and broad social goals by enhancing decision-making capacities generally, provided these are guided by policies that seek to uplift and empower,” PDM leader McHenry Venaani remarked during the opening ceremony of the conference on Monday.

It is taking place in Otjiwarongo.

Venaani is of the view that the Namibian microfinance model is wrong, too bureaucratic and more market-driven than developmental.

As such, he said, in formulating policies, PDM must seek to mitigate these challenges and offer a better alternative.

“It is the PDM’s desire to see Namibia live within her means and bring the budget back under control,” he added.

By March 2021, Namibia’s total debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product stood at 62 per cent.

Venaani went on: “Our nation’s net debt makes our country extremely vulnerable to economic shock and does not afford us protection in the event of another financial crisis.”

The 44-year-old did not mince his words when it came to unemployment, particularly among the youth.

“Unemployment in Namibia will only be reduced when there is an increased rate of growth in the number of jobs. Higher growth in employment, in turn, requires a faster growth in economic activity.”

For him, the other way to address unemployment is via supply-side policies: “These policies seek to improve the job-readiness of people who are unemployed or are making the transition from education to work, thereby making them more prepared to move into a job (or into a wider variety of jobs) when there is a faster rate of growth in employment.”

The provision of affordable land and housing is another thorny issue that ordinary Namibians are confronted with.

In the capital, Windhoek, it is estimated that 100 000 Namibians live in shacks.

“The housing crisis severely hampers the upliftment and empowerment of Namibians, particularly those in the urban areas. PDM is of the view that the urban poor need to be given ownership of plots on which to erect decent structures.”

He added: “In order to sustain the production capacity of the land, which is a renewable resource, security of tenure and accountability which resorts with ownership are all fundamental features.”

The five-day indaba ends on Friday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency