PM blames poverty, inequality on apartheid
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says the high rates of poverty and inequality Namibia is grappling with are aftereffects of apartheid’s discriminatory policies.
She made these remarks at a high-level event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, a multitude of challenges still inhibit access to global capital markets, such as exchange rate and market volatility, debt sustainability, credit ratings, geo-politics and access to financial instruments and information.
Loan conditionality continues to hamper human development due to its superficial indicators, which are not human-centred, she added.
“Due to its classification as an upper-middle income country, Namibia is limited to access development assistance in terms of grants and soft loans.”
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said development policies must be centred on respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights, while economic decision-making must be based on human rights considerations.
She added that Namibia’s development policies promote sustainable development by ensuring that economic advancement is achieved. This is done by striking a balance between social development and economic growth.
Addressing inequality
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the social sector receives the highest share of the budget - accounting for 53% of the budget this financial year - to provide for enhanced action on education, gender equality, poverty eradication, social welfare, health, social services, youth and sports.
As one the countries with a highest inequality gaps, Namibia has developed the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) as a policy tool to address wealth inequality, she said.
“We have also adopted an action plan to address grave disparities in land ownership and to ensure that previously disadvantaged persons are economically empowered to improve their livelihoods.”
She added that there are ongoing tax reforms aimed at enhancing capacity for compliance enforcement and at strengthening governance for the natural resources sector.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told the audience that to address gender inequalities, the country has adopted policies to promote equitable access to resources and opportunities for men and women, to curb violence against women and children, and to empower the girl child.
Shared prosperity
“To ensure shared prosperity and elimination of inequality within countries and amongst countries, multilateral systems must be inclusive and operated in an equitable manner, with the adopted principles applied in a fair and consistent manner.”
The prime minister said the inconsistent application of international principles erodes trust in systems, leaving them ineffective to preventing and resolving conflicts, and with detrimental effects to the society.
Multilateral systems must also promote the principles of sustainable benefit-sharing of natural resources to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the international trade, exploitation of natural resources, biological diversity, genetic resources and traditional knowledge, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
She made these remarks at a high-level event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, a multitude of challenges still inhibit access to global capital markets, such as exchange rate and market volatility, debt sustainability, credit ratings, geo-politics and access to financial instruments and information.
Loan conditionality continues to hamper human development due to its superficial indicators, which are not human-centred, she added.
“Due to its classification as an upper-middle income country, Namibia is limited to access development assistance in terms of grants and soft loans.”
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said development policies must be centred on respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights, while economic decision-making must be based on human rights considerations.
She added that Namibia’s development policies promote sustainable development by ensuring that economic advancement is achieved. This is done by striking a balance between social development and economic growth.
Addressing inequality
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the social sector receives the highest share of the budget - accounting for 53% of the budget this financial year - to provide for enhanced action on education, gender equality, poverty eradication, social welfare, health, social services, youth and sports.
As one the countries with a highest inequality gaps, Namibia has developed the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) as a policy tool to address wealth inequality, she said.
“We have also adopted an action plan to address grave disparities in land ownership and to ensure that previously disadvantaged persons are economically empowered to improve their livelihoods.”
She added that there are ongoing tax reforms aimed at enhancing capacity for compliance enforcement and at strengthening governance for the natural resources sector.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told the audience that to address gender inequalities, the country has adopted policies to promote equitable access to resources and opportunities for men and women, to curb violence against women and children, and to empower the girl child.
Shared prosperity
“To ensure shared prosperity and elimination of inequality within countries and amongst countries, multilateral systems must be inclusive and operated in an equitable manner, with the adopted principles applied in a fair and consistent manner.”
The prime minister said the inconsistent application of international principles erodes trust in systems, leaving them ineffective to preventing and resolving conflicts, and with detrimental effects to the society.
Multilateral systems must also promote the principles of sustainable benefit-sharing of natural resources to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the international trade, exploitation of natural resources, biological diversity, genetic resources and traditional knowledge, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
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