Iipumbu lambasts ‘Govt U-turn’ on free education

The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has taken issue with the government on its alleged shift on free tertiary education, describing it as a U-turn on its promises.

This follows president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s remarks during a youth engagement at the Ondangwa Trade Fair Hall on Saturday, where she insisted free education only covers tuition and registration fees.

“It is a big misunderstanding when some say ‘free education’. I was very clear,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said. “I did not talk about free education; I spoke about registration and tuition fees. That is what the government is going to cover, while parents take care of accommodation and transport,” the president explained.

This did not sit well with NEFF deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu, who questioned the perceived shift at its press conference yesterday.

“We must highlight what the head of state said on Saturday in the Oshana region about free education. They are now trying to change their tune. If you go back to the news of yesterday, you can see that we have leaders who go back on their words,” said Iipumbu.

He said “free education” is no longer being chanted as before and cautioned Namibians to watch out and hold the government accountable.

“They continue to lie blindly to our people because they want their votes. Young people must use their own brains when someone tells them they are going to do this and that and later change the concept,” Iipumbu said.

He said the government’s position shows that it lacks the necessary mechanisms to implement free education.

“Young people are being kept in the dark and misled into believing something that is not attainable without a proper mechanism in place,” he said.

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