DTA launches manifesto

THE DTA kicked off its election campaign on Thursday evening, promising to spend huge amounts of money on the poor and firing off rhetoric but provided little by way of explanation on how they would finance their programmes.

The opposition party’s manifesto launch started more than 90 minutes late, with some leaders arriving two hours late, interrupting DTA President Katuutire Kaura who promised to put an end to shacks, get rid of Cuban doctors, and immediately raise old-age pensions to N$500 a month if he is elected. Kaura is one of seven presidential candidates and also tops the list of his party’s National Assembly candidates.His promise of better health care and the removal of Cuban doctors drew huge applause from the crowd of under 200.”Unless you have health insurance, you cannot afford a doctor.All you can afford is a Cuban doctor who does not understand any Namibian language.All they ask is ‘where is sick?’,” said Kaura.Leaders of the party, whose popularity has waned over the past 15 years, spoke confidently of leading the next government, arguing that Swapo has failed the voters.McHenry Venaani, the DTA’s Secretary General, boasted that Kaura was the most educationally qualified candidate in the race and the best to succeed President Sam Nujoma.Kaura then challenged the Swapo presidential candidate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, to a public debate – a call that is bound to fall on deaf ears if the ruling party continues with the precedent set by Nujoma of staying aloof from his opponents.DTA leaders suggested they would rake in votes because their opponents are in disarray and fighting one another.Kaura claimed that discontent within the Swapo leadership spells disaster for the country, and the ruling party would introduce “Lubango dungeons” to get rid of Hamutenya supporters.In its manifesto, titled ‘You Deserve Better’, the DTA lists its priorities as unemployment, crime, poverty and combating HIV-AIDS.The party proposes reducing State interference in the economy, particularly parastatals.It would cut back the size of Government over time, but would not consider retrenchments.The DTA said it would spend a lot of money on the poor “at moderate cost to the State”.”Sweat shops” such as Ramatex, employing “poorly qualified” non-Namibian workers, would have no place in a Namibia under the DTA.The party wants foreign investment, but demands that the “high profits generated by foreign firms, including Ramatex, should be reinvested in Namibia.The party was non-committal on its spending on HIV-AIDS.A chapter is dedicated to land reform, but expropriation is not addressed at all, thought the DTA maintains that “uncertainty” should be avoided.Kaura is one of seven presidential candidates and also tops the list of his party’s National Assembly candidates.His promise of better health care and the removal of Cuban doctors drew huge applause from the crowd of under 200.”Unless you have health insurance, you cannot afford a doctor.All you can afford is a Cuban doctor who does not understand any Namibian language.All they ask is ‘where is sick?’,” said Kaura.Leaders of the party, whose popularity has waned over the past 15 years, spoke confidently of leading the next government, arguing that Swapo has failed the voters.McHenry Venaani, the DTA’s Secretary General, boasted that Kaura was the most educationally qualified candidate in the race and the best to succeed President Sam Nujoma.Kaura then challenged the Swapo presidential candidate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, to a public debate – a call that is bound to fall on deaf ears if the ruling party continues with the precedent set by Nujoma of staying aloof from his opponents.DTA leaders suggested they would rake in votes because their opponents are in disarray and fighting one another.Kaura claimed that discontent within the Swapo leadership spells disaster for the country, and the ruling party would introduce “Lubango dungeons” to get rid of Hamutenya supporters.In its manifesto, titled ‘You Deserve Better’, the DTA lists its priorities as unemployment, crime, poverty and combating HIV-AIDS.The party proposes reducing State interference in the economy, particularly parastatals.It would cut back the size of Government over time, but would not consider retrenchments.The DTA said it would spend a lot of money on the poor “at moderate cost to the State”.”Sweat shops” such as Ramatex, employing “poorly qualified” non-Namibian workers, would have no place in a Namibia under the DTA.The party wants foreign investment, but demands that the “high profits generated by foreign firms, including Ramatex, should be reinvested in Namibia.The party was non-committal on its spending on HIV-AIDS.A chapter is dedicated to land reform, but expropriation is not addressed at all, thought the DTA maintains that “uncertainty” should be avoided.