Geingob 'aware' of need to improve
The head of state says government will summon the courage and ingenuity to continue the work required.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Windhoek
President Hage Geingob said he is aware of the urgent need to improve people's lives in his second term of office, including creating jobs for young people.
He made the remarks during his inauguration on Saturday. Geingob starts his second term with youth unemployment standing at 44.79% and overall unemployment at about 33%.
His second term also coincides with 53% public debt to DGP, with some loans due for repayment soon.
The economy has declined over the past five years, due in part to devastating successive droughts. But with good rains recorded so far, there are expectations that the economy will start to recover.
“Today, I took this solemn oath, cognisant of the urgent need to improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said on Saturday.
Economic recovery threatened
Geingob hastened to caution that the outbreak of the coronavirus places the country's economic recovery efforts in jeopardy and this poses a threat to the way of life and future prosperity of the Namibian nation.
Calling the nation to stand up against the virus, Geingob said: “We must emulate the brave deeds of thousands of Namibian men and women, who from all corners of our country, rose as one people to defeat the brutal apartheid regime. Although the enemies we face today may be different, the resolve of the Namibian people remains as strong as ever. We shall never waver. Together, we shall overcome,” he said.
The head of state is expected to announce a slightly learner cabinet today, with at least seven fewer ministers.
Marked improvements
Reflecting on the past 30 years of independence, Geingob shot down assertions that the country has not improved since independence.
“We have matured in our constitutional democracy; we are stronger, more resilient and determined to prevail in this second phase of our struggle for economic emancipation. Indeed, we have come of age.
“Namibia today and Namibia at independence are miles apart,” he told about 400 people in attendance.
He added that over the period of 30 years, government has reduced poverty from a baseline of 70% to 18%, while 95% of children attend school and the number of teachers increased by 30%.
Geingob said the healthcare system in Namibia has transformed from fragmented, racially segregated infrastructure into an inclusive national service catering for the health and welfare of all Namibians, while the bitumen road network has increased by 45%.
He did not conceal that Namibians have faced uncommon hardships over the past five years, experiences that have made the enormity of his task to lead even more clear.
According to him, these experiences include the persistent income disparities and inequalities which are urgent challenges, as well as the deplorable conditions of poor and vulnerable Namibians without access to basic services who are at risk of dying of treatable diseases.
“Any society that is structurally unequal can never last. Although the odds appear to be stacked against us, we will summon the courage and ingenuity to continue the work we have commenced, with a sense of unity and common purpose,” said Geingob.
Additional reporting by Nampa
[email protected]
Windhoek
President Hage Geingob said he is aware of the urgent need to improve people's lives in his second term of office, including creating jobs for young people.
He made the remarks during his inauguration on Saturday. Geingob starts his second term with youth unemployment standing at 44.79% and overall unemployment at about 33%.
His second term also coincides with 53% public debt to DGP, with some loans due for repayment soon.
The economy has declined over the past five years, due in part to devastating successive droughts. But with good rains recorded so far, there are expectations that the economy will start to recover.
“Today, I took this solemn oath, cognisant of the urgent need to improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said on Saturday.
Economic recovery threatened
Geingob hastened to caution that the outbreak of the coronavirus places the country's economic recovery efforts in jeopardy and this poses a threat to the way of life and future prosperity of the Namibian nation.
Calling the nation to stand up against the virus, Geingob said: “We must emulate the brave deeds of thousands of Namibian men and women, who from all corners of our country, rose as one people to defeat the brutal apartheid regime. Although the enemies we face today may be different, the resolve of the Namibian people remains as strong as ever. We shall never waver. Together, we shall overcome,” he said.
The head of state is expected to announce a slightly learner cabinet today, with at least seven fewer ministers.
Marked improvements
Reflecting on the past 30 years of independence, Geingob shot down assertions that the country has not improved since independence.
“We have matured in our constitutional democracy; we are stronger, more resilient and determined to prevail in this second phase of our struggle for economic emancipation. Indeed, we have come of age.
“Namibia today and Namibia at independence are miles apart,” he told about 400 people in attendance.
He added that over the period of 30 years, government has reduced poverty from a baseline of 70% to 18%, while 95% of children attend school and the number of teachers increased by 30%.
Geingob said the healthcare system in Namibia has transformed from fragmented, racially segregated infrastructure into an inclusive national service catering for the health and welfare of all Namibians, while the bitumen road network has increased by 45%.
He did not conceal that Namibians have faced uncommon hardships over the past five years, experiences that have made the enormity of his task to lead even more clear.
According to him, these experiences include the persistent income disparities and inequalities which are urgent challenges, as well as the deplorable conditions of poor and vulnerable Namibians without access to basic services who are at risk of dying of treatable diseases.
“Any society that is structurally unequal can never last. Although the odds appear to be stacked against us, we will summon the courage and ingenuity to continue the work we have commenced, with a sense of unity and common purpose,” said Geingob.
Additional reporting by Nampa
[email protected]
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