Don’t depend on food banks - SPYL

ELLANIE SMIT

The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has called government to rein in spending on luxuries, while also calling on Namibians not to depend on food banks.

“We further call on all Namibians not to depend on food banks but to also try to produce their own food. For example backyard gardens,” SPYL secretary Ephraim Tuhadeleni Nekongo said.

Commenting on the recent budget announcement by finance minister Calle Schlettwein, the SPYL said the budget should cater for needs and not wants.

“We know we are in a very difficult economic situation, therefore this is not the time for luxurious and pleasurable expenditure.”

Nekongo said all Swapo members should use their structures to solve issues affecting them.

He also called on government to allocate more resources for the ongoing drought.

He said although the SPYL appreciates government’s readiness, they believe the allocated resources may not be adequate.

“We call on government to assist the farmers with sufficient water supply.”

Nekongo said government should make enough resources available to farmers who are willing to harvest grass.

He also called on farmers to sell some of their animals.

“We are appealing to farmers to be in solidarity with each other,” said Nekongo.

SPYL also called on government to support fodder-producing programmes and for it to buy food from local farmers before looking at imports.

Nekongo said due to climate change government should come up with a special programme that enables the country to produce food, even in the absence of the rain.

SPYL also appealed to government not to let the drought take a single life.

It also said the mistreatment of street vendors and informal traders by some local authorities should come to an end.

According to Nekongo, local authorities are established to provide services, including spaces for trading and settlement by people.

However they have dismally failed to deliver.

He said the mistreatment of vendors must come to an end and the guilty culprits dealt with.

“Equally, we are calling on all our members not to re-elect councillors serving on councils that are mistreating our people.”

SPYL also said any mistreatment should be reported to them in order for action to be taken.