‘AirNam must be brought down to earth’

CHIEF Kuaima Riruako of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) yesterday questioned Government’s priorities in spending on State Owned Enterprises.

Saying he was not against allocations from the National Budget to SOEs, Riruako however demanded more justification as to how these were determined. Speaking during the Budget debate in the National Assembly, Riruako asked the Finance Minister to provide the House with a strategic plan on how the national airline Air Namibia planned to address its financial woes.Air Namibia has been allocated N$153 million in this year’s Budget, having cost the taxpayer more than a N$1 billion since 2000.”When will this airline become sustainable, covering its own operational expenditure?”, Riruako wanted to know.”It is inconceivable for Air Namibia to be sustained from the taxpayers’ money indefinitely.The Namibian nation wants to the hear the plan from the Honourable Minister.”While more money was being pumped into Air Namibia, the Agricultural Bank was not receiving an allocation to allow it to grant loans.”Why?”Riruako wanted to know.Agribank is hard-pressed to find funds for this purpose.Riruako said the institution had an important role to play in the agricultural sector and in addressing imbalances in society through land reform.Riruako said in his view Agribank was achieving more towards land reform than Government’s resettlement programme.”The current resettlement programme is disappointing to say the least.In my view this programme is not well planned and does not contribute towards the sustainable development of this country,” said Riruako.”The programme rather has proved that [it] creates more [of a] dependency syndrome.”Riruako said the Ministry of Lands had to revisit the resettlement programme to ensure that it reduced poverty, unemployment and stimulated the desired growth.”It is important therefore that Agribank should not be placed on the periphery of the National Budget if Government is seriously committed to a sustainable and productive land reform process in our country,” said Riruako.Speaking during the Budget debate in the National Assembly, Riruako asked the Finance Minister to provide the House with a strategic plan on how the national airline Air Namibia planned to address its financial woes.Air Namibia has been allocated N$153 million in this year’s Budget, having cost the taxpayer more than a N$1 billion since 2000.”When will this airline become sustainable, covering its own operational expenditure?”, Riruako wanted to know.”It is inconceivable for Air Namibia to be sustained from the taxpayers’ money indefinitely.The Namibian nation wants to the hear the plan from the Honourable Minister.”While more money was being pumped into Air Namibia, the Agricultural Bank was not receiving an allocation to allow it to grant loans.”Why?”Riruako wanted to know.Agribank is hard-pressed to find funds for this purpose.Riruako said the institution had an important role to play in the agricultural sector and in addressing imbalances in society through land reform.Riruako said in his view Agribank was achieving more towards land reform than Government’s resettlement programme.”The current resettlement programme is disappointing to say the least.In my view this programme is not well planned and does not contribute towards the sustainable development of this country,” said Riruako.”The programme rather has proved that [it] creates more [of a] dependency syndrome.”Riruako said the Ministry of Lands had to revisit the resettlement programme to ensure that it reduced poverty, unemployment and stimulated the desired growth.”It is important therefore that Agribank should not be placed on the periphery of the National Budget if Government is seriously committed to a sustainable and productive land reform process in our country,” said Riruako.