Namibia

The Electoral Commission(ECN) in Namibia  has raised the alarm over the reluctance of  political parties in the country to submit their financial statements.

Also, the new Charperson of the Electoral Commission, Elsie Nghikembua,has promised to implement the provisions of the Electoral Act to enhance accountability and transparency.

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The new ECN Chairperson who made this known at a news conference in Windhoek.

 The ECN whcih raised the alarm in its latest annual report, revealed that only the All People's Party (APP) and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) submitted their statements for 20129/2020.

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''Political parties are bound by the Electoral Act to submit their statements to the ECN on an annual basis. At the time of going to print, the submission of financial statements for the 2020/21 financial year was not included.''

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''The parties which failed to submit their statements include the Christian Democratic Voice, National Unity Democratic Organisation of Namibia, Rally for Democracy and Progress, Republican Party, Swapo, United Democratic Front of Namibia, United People's Movement, and the Workers' Revolutionary Party (WRP).''

“The Landless People's Movement (LPM) and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) were not registered during the previous financial years.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
It says a large number of political parties have not submitted their financial statements to the ECN for the past five financial years.

Four political parties, including the APP, PDM, Swanu and Swapo handed in their reports.

The APP, PDM and Swapo have been the most consistent in submitting their financial records, while the WRP has never submitted statements,'' the report stated.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The Namibia government is in the process of drafting a law against the advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of alcohol and other dependence-inducing substances.
The draft bill titled, '''The Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use',  seeks to outlaw the advertisement and promotion of highly addictive and illegal narcotic drugs that affect mental performance, and cause changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior.
Among substances to be banned are heroin, dagga, alcohol, other intoxicating substances, and commercially produced alcoholic beverages.

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                -Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Namibians now spend more on food and non-alcoholic beverages as the cost of living rises unabated.
This is contained in a report by the Namibia Statistics Agency.
The report also stated that in comparison to a year ago, as of June 2021, 32% of the price increases consumers experienced are on food and non-alcoholic beverage items.
Food accounts for approximately 14,8% of consumer expenditure monthly. 
However, this varies from one income group to another, with some people spending more than that on food.
The report noted that for June 2021, the annual inflation rate increased by 4,1% compared to 2,1% recorded in June 2020.
''Last month's inflation rate was the highest over the past 12 months. Year-to-date, prices of goods and services have been increasing at the rate of 3,4% on average.

On a monthly basis, the inflation rate increased by 0,5% compared to 0,3% recorded a month earlier.
The inflation rate for the food sub-category increased by 7,7% during June 2021 compared to an increase of 4,9% during the same period last year. This is way higher than the rate at which other goods' prices are increasing in the country.

Meat is the most expensive food item in Namibia, as according to NSA, “meat was 16% more expensive than a year ago, which registered 8%”.  Chicken recorded the highest increase in this category at 25,2%, followed by offal at 18,2%.
On non-meat food items, rice recorded the highest inflation, as it was 18% more expensive than June last year, followed by bread at 10,5%.  Prices for vegetables, including potatoes and other tubers, increased by 6,8% in June 2021 compared to 11,7% recorded in June 2020.

The slowdown was caused mainly by the drop in the prices of carrots (-21,9%), onions (-20,8%), and green pepper (-12,2%), as local production came to the rescue.  Eggs recorded an upward price change of 7,2% followed by fresh milk, long-life milk at 5,6%, and cream at 3,6%,'' the report concluded.

Namibians have been called upon to desist from making unguarded utterances and unite to develop the country.
This call was made by the Minister of Urban and Rural development, Erastus Uutoni while inspecting the 121 houses to be allocated to the victims of the Twaloloka fire disaster at Walvis Bay.Transfer money with Wise

“We need to develop this country irrespective of political party or affiliation, stop talking too much, and start with the actual development. Let us work together as a team, Namibia can only be developed by united people,” Uutoni stated.

Namibians have been advised to be security conscious and vigilant as a step towards checkmating the insecurity in the country.
This advice was given by the Erongo Police Regional Commander for community affairs, inspector Ileni Shapumba.
“We are happy that people are speaking out. Thieves are all around you. If they do not rob you today, they will do so one day, whether they are your relatives or neighbors. It is important to hand them over to the police. We are warning criminals that they will soon be arrested if they do not stop their activities,”

The Trade Union Congress of Namibia(TUCN) has declared that the silence from both Government and labour leaders negotiating salary increases is deceitful and an indication that there is nothing for the workers.

This declaration was made by the Secretary General of the TUCN,  Mahongora Kavihuha, who insisted that his union was not part of the negotiation.

“The negotiations are a secret between the 'cahoots' unions and the government. We have observed the strategy of both recognized unions and government: whenever public servants raise their voice, they come and comfort us as if there is something in the pipeline, while there is nothing,” Kavihuha stated.

Senior government and trade union officials kept sealed lips on Wednesday night , refusing to disclose the outcome of  negotiations for salary increases.

The negotiations are coming on the heels  of threats by Namibian workers  to go on an indefinite strike, if the government does not increase their salaries.

Workers are demanding a 12 per cent increase in salaries, while government insists that there is paucity of funds.

Salary of workers waslast increased in 2016 by 5 per cent , with a promise by government to increase same by 9 per cent in 2017.

The increase came at a time, Teachers across the country embarked on an indefinite industrial action.