Several lawmakers have expressed wide-ranging reactions to the N.dollars 61.6 billion National Budget, with some saying it signifies nothing in terms of tangible economic growth or employment creation.
A staunch critic of the budget is Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Vipuakuje Muharukua, who said Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi’s budget is nothing short of repeated promises and lacks a plan to fix Namibia’s crippling economy or fight corruption.
“Nothing… absolutely nothing,” was Muharukua’s immediate response when asked what his key takeaways were.
“This budget is an extension of what has been happening for the last 30 years. We say what people want to hear because we know what they are yearning for. We know what is hurting the people,” he said.
According to Muharukua, a facet has been created to create the impression that Shiimi’s budget is pro-youth, when in fact, there is no correlation between the budgetary allocations to youth-related expenditure and the minister’s rhetoric.
The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service received N.dollars 330.9 million. The greater chunk of this budget goes to wage-related expenses.
Asked what he would do differently had he been in Shiimi’s position, Muharukua said his budget would have been pinned on sustenance.
“The alternative is agriculture. The alternative is the fishing sector. The alternative is value addition. That’s in terms of the economy,” he said.
Landless People’s Movement (LPM) politician Utaara Mootu was unimpressed and not surprised by the budget.
“The N.dollars 300 million that has been allocated to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, there should have been an increase to match the minister’s ambitions,” she said.
Mootu was also left unimpressed by the money allocated to agriculture and land reform.
“A country that recently received good rains must shift its dynamics and concentrate on food security and small livestock farming. How do you do that with N.dollars 1.9 billion? How do you source agricultural land with that?” the youthful politician asked.
Higher education minister, Itah Kandjii-Murangi was impressed by the budget.
“This was a pro-youth budget in the sense that, the different projects and programmes that have been outlined, speak to factoring the youth into the equation of helping to grow the economy,” the academic-turned-politician said.
The Kandjii-Murangi-led higher education, training and innovation ministry received N.dollars 3.3 billion.
“That speaks to the bulk of knowledge creation in our country. It speaks to the development of skills in our country. It is good that we are continuing with that across the board despite the challenges that we have at national level,” she said.
On the day, Shiimi was accompanied to Parliament by the Ipumbu Shiimi Football Club, his home village soccer team, as a display of his commitment to young people.
“I believe our country’s youthful population remains the most significant resource which could propel our economy onto a competitive and sustainable growth path. I believe our youth are indeed the lifeline of our economy,” Shiimi said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
