PDM worried about essential goods
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) says the government has failed to cooperate with the logistics sector to introduce a workable plan for keeping up the supply of essential goods to Namibian pharmacies and shops.
According to PDM parliamentarian Nico Smit it has become commonplace to be told at pharmacies or grocery shops that certain products are out of stock.
Smit said health minister Kalumbi Shangula has also acknowledged the shortage of essential medication.
Rough treatment
“A very disturbing and even frightening voice clip is doing the rounds on social media in which a truck driver points out the difficulties they are being subjected to by government at the borders and checkpoints.”
Smit said truck drivers claim that the people administering the coronavirus tests at border checkpoints are treating them so roughly that they suffer pain and nosebleeds for days afterwards.
“They live in fear of dying in a foreign country if they should test positive outside Namibia. This is creating great trauma for the families of such drivers. Yet it is a fact that, because Namibia is entirely dependent on the imports transported by these truck drivers, the country cannot afford to simply ignore these problems and allow them to go on strike as they seem to be suggesting.”
Namibia's lifeline
Smit said those in charge of the pandemic response should do everything possible to ensure that trucks carrying essential food, medicine and other supplies can enter the country quickly and easily, travel to their destinations smoothly and unload their freight with the least amount of red tape.
“The truck drivers should be treated with care, respect and dignity under all circumstances.”
Smit said the fact that this is not happening, despite meetings between stakeholders and the relevant ministries since April, is a clear indication that the government does not have an understanding of the logistics that keep Namibia going.
WINDHOEK
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) says the government has failed to cooperate with the logistics sector to introduce a workable plan for keeping up the supply of essential goods to Namibian pharmacies and shops.
According to PDM parliamentarian Nico Smit it has become commonplace to be told at pharmacies or grocery shops that certain products are out of stock.
Smit said health minister Kalumbi Shangula has also acknowledged the shortage of essential medication.
Rough treatment
“A very disturbing and even frightening voice clip is doing the rounds on social media in which a truck driver points out the difficulties they are being subjected to by government at the borders and checkpoints.”
Smit said truck drivers claim that the people administering the coronavirus tests at border checkpoints are treating them so roughly that they suffer pain and nosebleeds for days afterwards.
“They live in fear of dying in a foreign country if they should test positive outside Namibia. This is creating great trauma for the families of such drivers. Yet it is a fact that, because Namibia is entirely dependent on the imports transported by these truck drivers, the country cannot afford to simply ignore these problems and allow them to go on strike as they seem to be suggesting.”
Namibia's lifeline
Smit said those in charge of the pandemic response should do everything possible to ensure that trucks carrying essential food, medicine and other supplies can enter the country quickly and easily, travel to their destinations smoothly and unload their freight with the least amount of red tape.
“The truck drivers should be treated with care, respect and dignity under all circumstances.”
Smit said the fact that this is not happening, despite meetings between stakeholders and the relevant ministries since April, is a clear indication that the government does not have an understanding of the logistics that keep Namibia going.
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