NDP5 should be realistic - Alweendo

Stakeholders making contributions towards the formulation of the fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) have been urged not to look at creating a perfect plan but a realistic plan with attainable goals and objectives.
This advice was given by the minister of economic planning and director-general of the National Planning Commission Tom Alweendo during a consultative meeting with various stakeholders of Oshana Region on the formation of NDP5 and how best the stakeholders can contribute towards the development plan at Oshakati.
Alweendo said NDP5 will be a realistic plan if stakeholders play a role in the formation of the plan and contribute ideas towards a plan which is relevant and practical with attainable goals and objectives.
“Any plan is effective when those who are beneficiaries help craft the plan. We need to plan together if we want to go far. We can all make it a reality; let us not try to come up with a perfect plan,” Alweendo urged the delegates.
The minister highlighted positive strides government has made during the past 26 years saying critics are mostly concerned about what government has not done and it is a habit that is not fair. Alweendo said people should also recognise the development projects government has come up with to uplift the living standards of the people.
Alweendo used the platform to encourage the participants not to despair when projects fail. He further told the delegates to accept failure as a normal process and urged them never to give up when things do not go according to plan.
A presentation on the review of NDP4 which comes to an end next year highlighted a number of goals the government has attained but it however pointed out that there is still room for improvement.
NDP5 will be launched on 17 March next year but the first draft is expected to be completed by next month while the final draft should be ready by October.
KENYA KAMBOWE