SPYL dismayed by SOE misery
The ruling party's youth wing has lashed out at state-owned enterprises' wasting of taxpayer dollars.
The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) is dismayed by the squabbles and leadership battles haunting state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and has called on line ministers to take action against failing parastatals.
“We do not accept the situation of taxpayers' money being wasted by people who are entrusted to protect it; those that are found to be wrong must be brought to book.
“All heads of SOEs and their executives must sign performance agreements with the government, and if they fail to adhere to the agreed performance, action must be taken accordingly,” SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo said at a media briefing yesterday.
He also urged the government to implement a minimum wage across all sectors in order to combat the exploitation of Namibian workers.
The ruling party youth wing also wants the government to favour locals when it comes to entering the tourism sector.
Nekongo called on private companies and government to support the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (Amta) by purchasing locally produced fruit and vegetables from its fresh-produce hubs.
However, he added that Amta's management should ensure that local SMEs are given the opportunity to manage these hubs.
“We have observed some foreign-owned companies importing goods that are available in Namibia.
“We therefore resolved that the government should only open our borders to goods that are not available in the country.
“We have further observed that the tourism sector deliberately excludes black Namibians from actively participating in the sector,” Nekongo said.
He added that the government would soon start a tractor scheme for small-scale farmers.
He urged the government to ensure that young people are the first to benefit from this scheme.
“The ministry of agriculture, water and forestry needs to come up with a programme that supports farmers and horticultural producers, which includes drilling boreholes and purchasing irrigation equipment, so that it invests in people to produce food locally.”
The SPYL also directed its wrath towards the misuse of government vehicles and called on the government to overhaul its garage operations.
Nekongo said the government must engage local vocational training centres to maintain these vehicles.
JEMIMA BEUKES
“We do not accept the situation of taxpayers' money being wasted by people who are entrusted to protect it; those that are found to be wrong must be brought to book.
“All heads of SOEs and their executives must sign performance agreements with the government, and if they fail to adhere to the agreed performance, action must be taken accordingly,” SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo said at a media briefing yesterday.
He also urged the government to implement a minimum wage across all sectors in order to combat the exploitation of Namibian workers.
The ruling party youth wing also wants the government to favour locals when it comes to entering the tourism sector.
Nekongo called on private companies and government to support the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (Amta) by purchasing locally produced fruit and vegetables from its fresh-produce hubs.
However, he added that Amta's management should ensure that local SMEs are given the opportunity to manage these hubs.
“We have observed some foreign-owned companies importing goods that are available in Namibia.
“We therefore resolved that the government should only open our borders to goods that are not available in the country.
“We have further observed that the tourism sector deliberately excludes black Namibians from actively participating in the sector,” Nekongo said.
He added that the government would soon start a tractor scheme for small-scale farmers.
He urged the government to ensure that young people are the first to benefit from this scheme.
“The ministry of agriculture, water and forestry needs to come up with a programme that supports farmers and horticultural producers, which includes drilling boreholes and purchasing irrigation equipment, so that it invests in people to produce food locally.”
The SPYL also directed its wrath towards the misuse of government vehicles and called on the government to overhaul its garage operations.
Nekongo said the government must engage local vocational training centres to maintain these vehicles.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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