RDP to lay good foundation for the future: Hamutenya

RDP President Hidipo Hamutenya says the Rally for Democracy and Progress was formed to lay a strong foundation of change for the younger generation of Namibia.

Addressing a well–attended rally at Ondangwa on Saturday, Hamutenya said no matter what the cost, they have taken the responsibility to change the current situation under the Swapo Government to a better one for all Namibians.’We want change, real change, because Namibia’s economy is stagnating, its activities are not changing, because there is no real investment in our economy to create employment,’ he said. ‘You will not believe me that the Namibian nation is facing starvation. Four hundred thousand Namibians are starving; [they] eat once a day. This is the truth, not propaganda.’ He said other realities in Namibia today are that the education system is a mess, pupils are failing, there is no work for them and they become criminals.He said the Swapo Government is corrupt and the money stolen from Government could have been used to buy food for starving people or build schools, hospitals, roads and houses. ‘We must not repeat the mistakes we have made for the past 20 years, voting for a Swapo Government to enrich itself and to continue committing corruption, such as those Chinese bursaries,’ Hamutenya said.He said some of those charged in connection with the disappearance of millions of dollars of public money are on Swapo’s list of National Assembly candidates.Hamutenya said in an RDP government he, as the President, would never protect crooks and criminals. ‘It’s not easy, but I will try my utmost best to stop it. If not, you can ask me to step down,’ he said.Apart from fighting corruption, Namibia also has to fight poverty, he said.A nation with only two million people should not suffer from starvation, Hamutenya said.A non-corrupt Government could have set up irritation schemes under the Green Scheme to provide more food.’To say there is no money is not true. The money was there, but has been stolen and eaten up by the few. ‘The task here is to provide food, and that is what the RDP Government is going to do when in power.’ Charity starts at home, the RDP leader said, and blamed the Swapo Government for giving public contracts to foreign companies instead of local ones.’We must not cry that the Government has to do something. We have to do things ourselves. I have absolute faith and confidence in you, the youth, that you can bring change to the situation,’ Hamutenya concluded.oswald@namibian.com.na