Venaani calls for single-parent grant in 2015

DTA President McHenry Venaani has reiterated his call for a single-parent grant and an increase in the State pension. In his New Year’s message, Venaani said 2015 will be a significant year in Namibian history as a new president will be inaugurated, new cabinet ministers will be appointed and a new National Assembly sworn in. He said the DTA supports free school education. “As a means to complement efforts to enhance access to education, the DTA calls on all Namibian parents to ensure that their children attend school,” he said. He said only when parents contribute to the government’s efforts to ensure that all Namibian children have access to education can we collectively change Namibia for the better. Venaani believes that all Namibians should start 2015 on an equal footing. But that would not be the case for many Namibians, as the country’s most marginalised communities continue to suffer due to a lack of development. “Every effort must be directed towards addressing the developmental backlog that Namibia’s marginalised communities face, and these people should receive special State assistance in helping to break the cycle of poverty,” he said. He said the DTA has advocated for an increase in the pensions, the introduction of a single-parent support grant and the proposed Basic Income Grant (BIG), which the party believes would alleviate the financial burdens of many Namibians. “There can be no more excuses for slow or failed implementation of developmental initiatives, nor for poor outcomes in public healthcare and education, and 2015 must be the year that we work harder towards advancing the socio-economic conditions of all Namibians,” he said. WINDHOEK GORDON JOSEPH