Harambee coming along, but slowly
While service delivery has improved significantly under the HPP some areas still lag behind because of financial constraints.
Despite some hiccups the Namibian economy has fared relatively well and made progress towards achieving the Harambee Prosperity Plan goals, presidential economic adviser John Steytler said this week.
Presenting the HPP progress report on key Harambee activities and outcomes, Steytler pointed out that while service delivery had improved significantly under the HPP some areas still lagged behind because of financial constraints.
Steytler was speaking during the year-end presidential media briefing at State House.
“The year 2017 continued to be characterised by slower than usual economic activity, particularly in the construction and retail sectors. The year also witnessed the downgrade of internationally issued Namibian debt instruments to sub-investment standard by ratings agencies Moody and Fitch,” he said.
Significant strides had, however, been made under the Social Progression pillar of the HPP, he noted.
According to him a total of 8 769 plots had been serviced since March 2016 under the government-funded Massive Urban Land Servicing Programme while 2 524 others were serviced under a government-funded capital project.
An additional 1 190 plots were serviced by local authorities and 2 003 through public-private-partnerships (PPP). A total of 8 100 houses were constructed during this period, 3 405 of which were built under the Mass Housing Initiative, 1 598 on a PPP basis and 1 487 constructed by private developers while 223 were built by the GIPF.
Steytler pointed out that due to financial constraints the construction of rural toilets remained behind schedule.
“Government has identified 1 856 bucket toilets countrywide. Only 876 new toilets were built since the inception of the HPP in April 2016 to replace the bucket toilets.
“Moreover the remaining toilets are under construction. The goal to have the bucket system eliminated by the end of the 2017/18 financial year is therefore attainable,” said Steytler.
Strides have been made to provide food to the needy as part of President Hage Geingob's poverty eradication objective.
According to Steytler, 214 171 households continued to benefit from food distribution between April and November this year.
He added that a total of N$68.9 million had been spent, of which N$47 million was for actual food purchases and the remaining N$21.7 million for logistics.
“Similarly the administration of targeted social grants continues to contribute towards the livelihood of vulnerable citizens. The old age social grant remains the most significant.
“As at November and December this year a total of 168 738 senior citizens were registered recipients of this monthly grant, representing a coverage rate of 99%. This figure is up from 163 373 a year earlier,” he said. According to him, the government has spent N$202.5 million on this grant this year alone.
Beneficiaries of disability grants have increased from 38 065 in December 2016 to 40 482 this year December.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Presenting the HPP progress report on key Harambee activities and outcomes, Steytler pointed out that while service delivery had improved significantly under the HPP some areas still lagged behind because of financial constraints.
Steytler was speaking during the year-end presidential media briefing at State House.
“The year 2017 continued to be characterised by slower than usual economic activity, particularly in the construction and retail sectors. The year also witnessed the downgrade of internationally issued Namibian debt instruments to sub-investment standard by ratings agencies Moody and Fitch,” he said.
Significant strides had, however, been made under the Social Progression pillar of the HPP, he noted.
According to him a total of 8 769 plots had been serviced since March 2016 under the government-funded Massive Urban Land Servicing Programme while 2 524 others were serviced under a government-funded capital project.
An additional 1 190 plots were serviced by local authorities and 2 003 through public-private-partnerships (PPP). A total of 8 100 houses were constructed during this period, 3 405 of which were built under the Mass Housing Initiative, 1 598 on a PPP basis and 1 487 constructed by private developers while 223 were built by the GIPF.
Steytler pointed out that due to financial constraints the construction of rural toilets remained behind schedule.
“Government has identified 1 856 bucket toilets countrywide. Only 876 new toilets were built since the inception of the HPP in April 2016 to replace the bucket toilets.
“Moreover the remaining toilets are under construction. The goal to have the bucket system eliminated by the end of the 2017/18 financial year is therefore attainable,” said Steytler.
Strides have been made to provide food to the needy as part of President Hage Geingob's poverty eradication objective.
According to Steytler, 214 171 households continued to benefit from food distribution between April and November this year.
He added that a total of N$68.9 million had been spent, of which N$47 million was for actual food purchases and the remaining N$21.7 million for logistics.
“Similarly the administration of targeted social grants continues to contribute towards the livelihood of vulnerable citizens. The old age social grant remains the most significant.
“As at November and December this year a total of 168 738 senior citizens were registered recipients of this monthly grant, representing a coverage rate of 99%. This figure is up from 163 373 a year earlier,” he said. According to him, the government has spent N$202.5 million on this grant this year alone.
Beneficiaries of disability grants have increased from 38 065 in December 2016 to 40 482 this year December.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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