PDM hones in on corruption, jobs
In anticipation of the November elections, the PDM has released its manifesto.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has called on Namibians to “collectively sanitise our politics by breaking Swapo's two-thirds majority”.
He said this would usher in a new leadership that will “push our nation forward in unity and development”.
Venaani said under his presidency the wastage of state resources and corruption would be fought on every front, with vigour and determination.
These and other commitments were unveiled as part of the PDM's 2019 election manifesto launch on Wednesday.
The document, titled 'Strategy Namibia: Agenda for Change and Transforming the Nation', hones in on a number of issues on which the PDM wants to focus its campaign for the National Assembly and presidential elections slated for 27 November.
“I believe in the vast potential of Namibia and in our people's ability to continue moving Namibia forward to a bright future in which all shall benefit and share prosperity.
“There is and should be no limit to what we and our generation can achieve… Join us as we work for economic justice; for real relief and hope for every Namibian,” Venaani says in the foreword of the election manifesto.
“You deserve a leadership that is honest and good for the people. Be part of the change you want to see! Let's work together towards these noble ideals and put our party and my candidature at the forefront by voting for fresh new ideas that can move Namibia forward come November 2019.”
Venaani said the PDM has for years consistently raised concern about issues that “have taken our country backwards instead of forwards”.
“We have been at the forefront of fighting the bane of corruption and malfeasance in our government and state-owned enterprises.
“We have fought the agenda of impunity and procurement that has denied our own Namibian people jobs; we have lamented the housing and poverty crises that impugn the ideals of sovereignty and humanity of our people.
“We have called for a jobs summit to address job creation. On the other hand, we have been promised prosperity, but we have ended up with a failed economy moving in reverse… and promises of change that have come to nothing,” Venaani said. He said his party's vision was to give impetus to new ideas that would be game-changers for “our growth and survival”.
“It is a known fact that this country is semi-arid with very few water resources, coupled with various climatic challenges exacerbated by climate change.
“As president of Namibia I will stabilise water availability by investing in desalination plants to pump water from our 1 500-km coastline into the peri-urban and urban centres that would in turn revolutionise agriculture to ensure food security and reverse youth unemployment in our nation,” Venaani said.
“I shall revolutionise Namibia by making our country a renewable energy hub through solar and wind energy, through providing widespread support to scientists to be trained abroad in order to produce our own locally built solar panels.
“Homeowners will be encouraged to sell surplus energy to the energy grid, while providing storage facilities.
“Thus, under my watch Namibia's economy will be ensured of the essentials, namely the water and energy required for sustained growth for our country and its people.”
Venaani said it was his plan to build a stronger Namibia by building a stronger economy, stronger communities, a cleaner environment and more modern infrastructure.
“My priority is to build a stronger, more productive and diverse economy by lowering taxes, a leaner and efficient government and a more productive business sector that will deliver more jobs, higher wages and better service provision for all the citizens of our country.
“With a modernised economy and the right policies, Namibians can have competitive manufacturing industries, a dynamic service sector and a growing knowledge economy, a modernised agricultural sector and a value-added mining sector.
“We can achieve strong and vibrant small and medium enterprises creating better jobs for growth and less dependence on government.
“My government will put into place an education policy that is vital to both individual and national development; this will be a solemn priority of my presidency,” Venaani said.
He also pledged to provide free education from lower- to upper-primary level, while providing support to identified priority faculties at tertiary level.
“I will see to it that institutions of higher learning are built within regions to raise the quality of education at regional level, with a greater emphasis on vocational training skills development, better-trained teachers and well-equipped facilities to capacitate our youth with jobs in the long-term.
“I will further deepen our economic base by unlocking dead capital in rural areas and shall modernise agriculture and double the number of farmers by providing them with water infrastructure to secure robust production and food sustainability,” Venaani added.
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He said this would usher in a new leadership that will “push our nation forward in unity and development”.
Venaani said under his presidency the wastage of state resources and corruption would be fought on every front, with vigour and determination.
These and other commitments were unveiled as part of the PDM's 2019 election manifesto launch on Wednesday.
The document, titled 'Strategy Namibia: Agenda for Change and Transforming the Nation', hones in on a number of issues on which the PDM wants to focus its campaign for the National Assembly and presidential elections slated for 27 November.
“I believe in the vast potential of Namibia and in our people's ability to continue moving Namibia forward to a bright future in which all shall benefit and share prosperity.
“There is and should be no limit to what we and our generation can achieve… Join us as we work for economic justice; for real relief and hope for every Namibian,” Venaani says in the foreword of the election manifesto.
“You deserve a leadership that is honest and good for the people. Be part of the change you want to see! Let's work together towards these noble ideals and put our party and my candidature at the forefront by voting for fresh new ideas that can move Namibia forward come November 2019.”
Venaani said the PDM has for years consistently raised concern about issues that “have taken our country backwards instead of forwards”.
“We have been at the forefront of fighting the bane of corruption and malfeasance in our government and state-owned enterprises.
“We have fought the agenda of impunity and procurement that has denied our own Namibian people jobs; we have lamented the housing and poverty crises that impugn the ideals of sovereignty and humanity of our people.
“We have called for a jobs summit to address job creation. On the other hand, we have been promised prosperity, but we have ended up with a failed economy moving in reverse… and promises of change that have come to nothing,” Venaani said. He said his party's vision was to give impetus to new ideas that would be game-changers for “our growth and survival”.
“It is a known fact that this country is semi-arid with very few water resources, coupled with various climatic challenges exacerbated by climate change.
“As president of Namibia I will stabilise water availability by investing in desalination plants to pump water from our 1 500-km coastline into the peri-urban and urban centres that would in turn revolutionise agriculture to ensure food security and reverse youth unemployment in our nation,” Venaani said.
“I shall revolutionise Namibia by making our country a renewable energy hub through solar and wind energy, through providing widespread support to scientists to be trained abroad in order to produce our own locally built solar panels.
“Homeowners will be encouraged to sell surplus energy to the energy grid, while providing storage facilities.
“Thus, under my watch Namibia's economy will be ensured of the essentials, namely the water and energy required for sustained growth for our country and its people.”
Venaani said it was his plan to build a stronger Namibia by building a stronger economy, stronger communities, a cleaner environment and more modern infrastructure.
“My priority is to build a stronger, more productive and diverse economy by lowering taxes, a leaner and efficient government and a more productive business sector that will deliver more jobs, higher wages and better service provision for all the citizens of our country.
“With a modernised economy and the right policies, Namibians can have competitive manufacturing industries, a dynamic service sector and a growing knowledge economy, a modernised agricultural sector and a value-added mining sector.
“We can achieve strong and vibrant small and medium enterprises creating better jobs for growth and less dependence on government.
“My government will put into place an education policy that is vital to both individual and national development; this will be a solemn priority of my presidency,” Venaani said.
He also pledged to provide free education from lower- to upper-primary level, while providing support to identified priority faculties at tertiary level.
“I will see to it that institutions of higher learning are built within regions to raise the quality of education at regional level, with a greater emphasis on vocational training skills development, better-trained teachers and well-equipped facilities to capacitate our youth with jobs in the long-term.
“I will further deepen our economic base by unlocking dead capital in rural areas and shall modernise agriculture and double the number of farmers by providing them with water infrastructure to secure robust production and food sustainability,” Venaani added.
STAFF REPORTER
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