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Lack of implementation hampers developmental programmes – Poverty Minister

Lack of implementation hampers developmental programmes – Poverty Minister

The lack of implementation has in the past hampered developmental programmes from achieving favourable results to lift the people from abject poverty, according to the the Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Zephania Kameeta.

The minister echoed this in his keynote address at a workshop held last week on the popularization on the Blue Print on Wealth Redistribution and Poverty Eradication at the Ongwediva Town Council Multi-Purpose Centre.

Kameeta said that the document and its implementation plan were not designed or done in a library but through consultation and dialogues hosted by the Ministry.

The minister however noted that often good documents are put forward but a lack of implementation has in the past hampered developmental programmes from achieving favourable results.

 According to Kameeta, an implementation plan has been developed to fast track development and emancipate the people through socio-economic developmental plans such as the Blueprint.

The Minister further indicated that there should a joint commitment and collaborative effort in order to eradicate poverty as the Blueprint aims to coordinate all government related programmes. “It cant be correct that some people have access to sanitation as an example access to toilets but others are still using the bush to relieve themselves in an independent Namibia. That is why one of the key strategic priority area of the Blueprint is access to basic services so that they can live a dignified life,” he said.

The Blueprint was adopted by Cabinet on 16 August 2016 and has now been finalised. The Blueprint and the implementation plan were tabled in the National Assembly on 28 September 2017.

Hon. Clemence Kashuupulwa, Governor of Oshana Region at the event highlighted that in the President’s maiden speech on the 21 March 2015 he declared War on Poverty and thus it was the responsibility of all Namibians to support the President in the war against poverty.

The Governor further indicated that the nation should all take ownership of the document and also reminded the stakeholders in the meeting that the government has since 1990 had programmes targeting poverty but the blueprint is unique because it brings all the challenges people are facing in terms of poverty together so that they can be addressed together.

The governor said that the issue of poverty they were discussing should not be discussed in isolation but be linked to other government related development programmes.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare I-Ben Nashandi presented the summary of the Blueprint and Mrs. Salome Idhenga , a senior economist in the Ministry presented the Implementation Plan.


Caption:left to right : Mr. I-Ben Nashandi, PS of the Ministry, Hon. Gerson Hannu Kapenda, Chairperson of the Oshana Regional Council, Hon. Samuel Panduleni Shivute, Chairperson of the Oshikoto Regional Council, Hon. Clemence Kashuupulwa, Governor of Oshana Region, Hon. Zephania Kameeta, Minister of the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Hon. Usko Nghaaamwa, Governor of Ohangwena Region, Advocate Bience Gawanas, Special Advisor to the Minister of the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare and Hon. Henock Ka Koshi, Governor of Oshikoto Region. In the background are stakeholders that took part in the workshop.


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