Thread: RDP Election Manifesto 2009

(The following is a text version of the original pdf version of the document and is provided as a service only to members who may not have access to the original. Although not one single letter or figure has been altered, formatting may have caused a shift of paragraphs. In case of doubt you are hereby requested to log in at the party's website to check against the original. Iam not a RDP member nor have I been requested by the party to provide this information in this form)

RDP ELECTION MANIFESTO 2009

IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE - TOGETHER, WE CAN DO BETTER

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)

FOREWORD

RDP President Hidipo Hamutenya

Almost 20 years after the achievement of independence, Namibia is still grappling with the process of nation building, which primarily involves the consolidation of democratic values and institutions. That is, two decades down the road, the country’s leaders have not been able to firmly set the nation on a steady course towards democracy, socioeconomic development and national integration.

Democratic institutions, such as the parliament, Constitution etc., that were established at independence to guarantee the Namibian people’s fundamental freedoms and human rights, promote multiparty governance and foster the values of political tolerance, are yet to find firm roots in our society.

Namibia has only managed, over the last 18 years to adopt the form, but not the substantive content of democracy. This is to say that, under the dominant party rule, the country’s political system has not been able to mobilize and absorb the necessary levels of political participation in the process of governing the country.

It is the failure to advance which occasioned the formation of the RDP in 2007. The formation of this Party, no doubt added a new and significant political dimension to the nation’s political process. It has aroused the interest of the masses of our people in political activity.

The RDP is committed to the widening of Namibia’s political space by strengthening the country’s multiparty democracy, allowing different political ideas and programmes to be given free reign to contend. Hence, this new party presents an alternative programme, aimed at galvanizing the nation and uplifting the country’s socio-economic, spiritual and intellectual wellbeing. In other words, the Manifesto constitutes the RDP’s public declaration of policy and aims on the basis of which the Party seeks to be voted to the decision-making position of authority within the Namibian state.

Indeed, the Manifesto, which I have the honour to submit to the Namibian people, is a solemn pledge of what the RDP will do if it is accorded the mandate in the forthcoming general and presidential elections to administer the affairs of this country.
The Manifesto prioritizes areas of immediate focus upon the Party’s coming to power. These are: health care, job creation, education and training, housing, infrastructural development, economic development, pruning of the bloated government, youth and sports development, support to traditional authorities, the role of faith-based institutions in development and women’s empowerment.

Unlike those who have lost vision and are groping in the dark, the RDP has a clear vision, a vision for Namibia’s bright, democratic and prosperous future. And we promise, here and now, to end the policy of job reservation “for comrades”, which is a step backward to the apartheid era. It is therefore, anathema to the RDP. We will bury the system that allows the majority of job-seeking Namibian youth to fail at school and consequently be unemployed.
It is time for change!!

Under the RDP led-government, all Namibians will be treated equally regardless of their political affiliations. Nobody shall be disadvantaged because of his or her political belief. We shall be truly inclusive for the good of our country, democracy and progress.
To Namibia’s young generation, especially the born free compatriots, we make a sacred vow to ensure that the RDP is your preferred political home, where your ideas and involvement will be respected, welcomed and valued.

The decision to move this country from the current state of socio-economic stagnation, imbalances and inequalities to one with bright prospects for all of our citizens is in your hands!

This is the reason why I call upon each and every one of you to vote for the Rally for Democracy and Progress because you deserve better!

Use this coming opportunity to vote for change!

Together, we can do better!!! Till we meet at the ballot box.

Hidipo Hamuteny President
The RDP Election Manifesto sets forth the policy guidelines of the Party’s future Government.

DEMOCRACY & POLITICAL PLURALISM

The RDP espouses democracy as its beacon in the push for the development of Namibian society.
Democracy is referred to as “government by the people, for the people”. More broadly defined, democracy refers to a system of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people. In other words, the masses of the people constitute the source of political authority in a democratic system.

In this context, the definition of democracy goes beyond the concept of government or the mere mechanism of ruling, administering, ordering and regulating public affairs.

For the RDP, governance is the process and skill to utilize collective power for the realization of common objectives. Such collective power has to be acquired democratically through elections.

When it is good, governance involves the actions and interaction of individuals and groups in diverse and dynamic ways.
Good governance entails discussion, consultation and consensus. It is a strategic precondition for success in the nation’s effort towards development.

RDP Election Manifesto 2009This not only requires that the management of public affairs be conducted within the framework of the rule of law and ethical codes, but that such management is carried out on the basis of the principles of accountability and transparency. This reinforces the legitimacy of government and helps nurture trust between public officials and the people.
Accountability and transparency serve as a potent deterrent against corruption, which is a manifestation of bad governance.
Typical of bad governance is the existence of a cumbersome and ineffective regulatory framework which puts unnecessary hurdles in the path of both domestic and foreign investment flow into the economy.

RDP knows that being accountable has not been a distinguishing characteristic of the management of the country’s public affairs.
Accountability forms a central plank of the RDP’s political programme. Individuals and organizations charged with the performance of specific roles or delivery of particular services, will be held responsible for their actions or inaction and judged in terms of clearly stated legal and ethical codes of conduct; and required to respond to the legitimate requests and demands of citizens without discrimination or favour.

Since the private sector derives its support and profitability from civil society, one important function of accountability is the supply of reliable, sufficient, up-to date information on the performance of private enterprises and corporations. Research institutes also need reliable information on which to base independent and objective analysis.

Information flow is thus a very vital contribution to the country’s development and the flourishing of good governance in Namibia. The RDP therefore considers itself duty bound to foster a political culture where accountability is highly emphasized.

Also central to the definition of good governance is the principle of transparency, which involves making available information on all matters related to governance, including the

duties and responsibilities of public officials and the manner in which they are performed.

For the RDP, openness and predictability, at all levels, constitute the essence of good governance. They are key to inhibiting corruption and stunting its growth; and also increasing public trust and confidence in those charged with the achievement of common goals.

The RDP is thus keen to enhance effective co-operation and partnership between the government, the private sector and civil society.

The RDP knows that in the highly competitive knowledge-based world economy, the availability of information is crucial to both public and private sectors.

It is thus committed to ensure the rapid building up of capacity to acquire, store, and disseminate information and knowledge necessary to enable Namibia’s entrepreneurs and business people to be more productive, innovative and competitive.
Accountability and transparency are important building blocks in the creation of constructive relations between people in a modern society or ‘social capital’. The RDP is thus committed to the cultivation of social capital as key to the promotion, sustainability and consolidation of both democratic processes and economic development.

HEALTH

The provision of affordable, ac-cessible and quality health care is at the core of the RDP’s social agenda.
Health services in Namibia have seriously deteriorated in the two decades of independence.

It is an indictment on government that infant and maternal mortality have increased significantly in recent years.
At a time when the country faces several challenges in the health sector, government has not been able to put in place policies and take actions designed to meet these challenges. Nor has it shown any passion to do so.

Major gains initially made in the health sector have now been reversed.

Clearly, drastic action is needed if this situation is to be reversed and if the public is to have confidence in the health services again. A healthy population makes a strong, productive, happy and caring nation!

The RDP will therefore transform the failed health system. It will focus on the training of health personnel, wellequipped health facilities, access to health facilities and proper management.

The RDP led government will:

• Provide efficient, cost-effective and comprehensive quality health and social welfare services at different levels of care;
• Automatically provide state support. State patients that require specialized treatment will be helped;
• Review the current public medical aid scheme;
• Aim to provide relevant rehabilitation services;
• Maintain and support the health and social well-being of the nation through preventative, promotive and disease control efforts in collaboration with relevant partners, in particular the communities concerned;
• Ensure the availability of and efficient utilization of the necessary resources required to maintain agreed-upon health care and social welfare standards;
• Implement a comprehensive HIV and AIDS strategy encompassing prevention, treatment, care and support for those who are affected and infected, including the prevention of mother to child transmission.
• Formulate, implement, monitor, evaluate and review policies for optimal service delivery and per-
formance; • Provide and promote public health services and advise local and regional authorities on public health matters;
• Ensure quality assurance, continuous availability, proper usage and rational use of essential drugs at all levels;
• Ensure the availability of effective regulations on health and social welfare through appropriate legislation;
• Promote, regulate, support and conduct, in particular, operational research to improve overall service delivery;
• Ensure the development, strengthening and utilization of efficient management systems as effective tools for health care service delivery;
• Ensure the availability of trained human resources in order to strengthen and maintain professional standards, including the revision of remuneration for health services and stemming the brain drain in this sector;
• Promote the self-reliance and coping capabilities of individuals, families and communities, in collaboration with relevant health and social welfare services partners;
• Ensure the continuous upgrading of existing facilities as well as the development of new infrastructure where they are lacking or non-existent;
• Promote a focus on Primary Health Care at community level;
• Ensure that the budgetary allocation to this sector is efficiently and timeously utilized. No funds should be diverted to other areas as is presently the case;
• Streamline the managerial structures of all health institutions to ensure that prudent management practices are restored; and
• Ensure the availability of funds in cases of national emergencies.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Education and training is the heartbeat of the RDP’s economic transformation and development strategy.

Namibia’s current education system is not meeting the needs of the country’s economy and is ineffective.

Nearly 20 years after independence, despite its massive budget allocation, Namibia’s education sector continues to produce functionally illiterate children who end up on the streets.

Clearly, visionary action must be taken to turn the situation around in this critical sector and provide our children with the quality education that is so badly lacking.

The RDP vows to replace the failed education system with one that will create the required knowledge and skills to make our country productive and competitive. The RDP will therefore:

• Overhaul the educational system to be consistent with national development needs;
• Reintroduce pre-primary schools as a matter of urgency;
• Promote compulsory and quality free pre-primary, primary and secondary education;
• Restructure curricula with deliberate emphasis on science, mathematics, information technology, technical, commercial and management skills, civic and environmental education;
• Promote access to education facilities for all;
• Establish vocational training centres and technical colleges;
• Ensure adequate provision of both accommodation and catering services for all students at institutions of higher learning;
• Institute a national assessment of teacher skills with a view to provide training; and
• Ensure the availability of bursaries to at least 65% of all students who obtained university admission.

SOCIAL WELFARE

Current social welfare programmes are inadequate in addressing the real needs and aspirations of recipients.
There has been serious mismanagement and misuse of current social welfare programmes and funds, including the investment of funds in dubious schemes. As a consequence, the returns to beneficiaries have been limited. To remedy this situation, the RDP-led government will:

• Institute measures to protect social welfare funds;
• Ensure that monthly pay outs are in line with the cost of living in Namibia;
• Review overall operational procedures for the management of these funds; and
• Strengthen safety nets for the pensioners, the disabled and other vulnerable groups; and
• Increase social pensions to not less than N$750 per month.

THE ECONOMY & WEALTH CREATION

In recent years, the Namibian economy has been stagnant; it has not witnessed any significant growth. This is indicative of a government and of economic policies that have run out of steam, are outdated and lack vision. Unfortunately, it is the people of this country that suffer the consequences of this inept government and its policies.
Namibia needs a new economic vision that will provide the necessary thrust to grow the economy. Therefore the RDP led government will:

• Create a conducive environment for investment;
• Reform and update the Investment Act;
• Foster a culture of productivity and work ethics;
• Intensify and promote local and foreign trade;
• Introduce a Fishing Board to oversee the fishing industry
• Recognize the importance of modern communications and transport infrastructure as links to effective trade and investment;
• Actively ensure the entry of Namibians into mainstream tourism.
• Urgently look into ways of integrating the red line into the mainstream of the economy
• Participate to a certain degree in the mixed economy;
• Restructure Air Namibia with a view to forging strategic alliances and joint ventures with reputable international airlines in order to make it commercially viable; and
• Taking into account that Namibia has the highest tax levels in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) region, endeavour to reduce current tax rates to more acceptable levels.

DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure in Namibia is in a sad state of disrepair and is inadequate due to poor planning and management by the government.
The RDP will, therefore:
• Embark on a comprehensive program to rehabilitate current infrastructure;
• Build new feeder roads and upgrade existing ones especially in rural areas;
• Construct schools, laboratories, libraries, vocational training centres and quality accommodation facilities for learners and teachers;
• Ensure that all infrastructure is well maintained;
• Facilitate a comprehensive programme for the remedy and development of railways, power stations, hospitals, clinics and health centres; and
• Make the rehabilitation of the nation’s infrastructure one of its immediate priorities, and will provide jobs and skills training to our people in the infrastructure sector.

HOUSING

Democracy starts with a decent home. At present, many Namibia’s citizens are facing a serious housing crisis, with thousands of them living in tin shacks and other sub-standard structures without decent sanitation. The RDP led government will:
• Provide decent shelter to all Namibians;
• Unlock the economic value of housing in rural areas;
• Introduce a national housing strategy to tackle homelessness particularly among women and youth; and
• Provide not less than 30,000 houses per year.

WATER PROVISION

• The RDP will ensure that every household has access to clean, safe and adequate drinking water.
• We will rehabilitate our major dams and boreholes and develop new sources of water.
• Invest in harvesting water by building earth dams and canals to capture rainwater.
• Review the current water distribution policy especially the cost structure in order to benefit the poor;
• Expand water reticulation to rural areas;
• Ensure access to clean affordable water for rural areas, including its subsidization; and
• Make contingency for water reservoirs.

ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM

Preserving Namibia for future generations:
• An RDP-led government will work for sustainable conservation, preservation of the environment for future generation and will ensure the participation of all in preserving our environment.
• An RDP-led government will work for a clean and safe environment free from pollution, destruction of the ecosystem, deforestation, poaching while preventing the release of hazardous chemicals into the air and any environmentally unfriendly activities that might lead to global warming.
The RDP recognizes that tourism and the environment have the potential to create wealth and much needed jobs for our people much faster than any other sector of our economy. Therefore, an RDP-led government will:
• Facilitate expansion of the sector to create more job opportunities;
• Ensure an environment where tourists and foreign investors are welcomed, appreciated and valued;
• Address and remove all barriers to entry in the industry in order to ensure that tourism in Namibia becomes everyone’s business;
• Introduce a new tariff structure in all our national parks to make entry more affordable for Namibian nationals;
• Introduce a progressive conservancy management policy to allow local communities to maximize benefits from these initiatives;
• Ensure that the country’s natural beauty, spectacular scenery and wildlife are preserved and nurtured for current and future generations; and
• Acknowledge the fragile nature of our environment by promoting eco-tourism.

ENERGY

There is a direct relationship between energy and poverty. If we do not have energy, we cannot irrigate land for farming nor will our schools and hospitals have power.

In Namibia, we are blessed with energy resources that can provide us power without destroying the environment.
If we privatize production in solar, wind and hydropower, we can ensure energy supply enough for our needs at an affordable price. Competition will bring down tariffs.

The provision of electricity is central to development. Subsequently, the RDP acknowledges that no development can take place, especially in rural areas, if rural electrification is not given priority. Hence, the RDP will:

• Review current electricity distribution policies to ensure they are poor-friendly;
• Speed up national and regional projects on energy generation and supply;
• Expedite rural electrification to ensure development in rural areas;
• Investigate means of providing affordable energy to the rural poor, including the possibility of subsidization;
• Facilitate investments in renewable energy, particularly solar energy, in order to accelerate electrification in most off-grid rural settlements;
• Revisit government involvement in the Kudu Gas project, Epupa Hydro Electric project and Popa Falls Hydro Electric scheme with a view to expediting the implementation of all these projects; and
• Assist the private sector to invest in wind energy particularly along the country’s coastline
Furthermore, the RDP will give priority to investing in renewable energy technologies and the following practical steps will be taken:
• Insist that Municipal sewage treatment must allow for power generation from human and other biowaste;
• All dairies to produce their own power;
• All school hostels to use own gas production;
• All agricultural waste to be processed;
• Only fuel efficient bulbs to be used;
• Street and traffic lights to be solarpowered;
• All government buildings to use solar power; and
• Where possible, all government boreholes to be solar powered.

EMPOWERMENT

• The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) will be re-directed to its original mission of providing support to SMEs at preferential rates;
• The GIPF, SSC and financial institutions will be required to invest part of their profits into infrastructural development projects;
• An RDP-led government will review the awarding of mining concessions to benefit Namibians;
• We will encourage businesses to set up social responsibility funds to benefit the communities in which they operate;
• Concessions will, where appropriate, be awarded to companies with Namibian participation; and
• To encourage local participation in value-addition in the aqua and mariculture industry, government will set up a fund to finance the empowerment of local entrepreneurs to which the fishing industry will contribute.

JOB CREATION

The employment environment in Namibia, where individuals see themselves as working for someone or for government is counter-productive to job creation.

Additionally, the lack of long-term job creation strategies has led to the high unemployment rate.
The RDP seeks to create an entrepreneurial culture in which people see themselves as creators of employment growth and expansion of the SME sector.

The RDP will, therefore:

• Create incentives for investors who voluntarily expand their businesses by employing the young on attachment, internship and apprenticeship;
• Formulate policies that require existing business to take on apprentices and interns;
• Promote the growth and expansion of the SME sector; and
• Strengthen the capacity of the DBN to enable entrepreneurs to start and or expand their businesses.
The RDP is further committed to ensure that:
• Employment creation and broad economic transformation policies target labour intensive production sectors, such as agriculture, textile industry, tourism, manufacturing and processing;
• The tendering system will be revamped and made transparent to suit Namibia’s needs; and
• Legislation is enacted to promote the deregulation of the informal sector, so as to allow it to grow.

STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES

State-owned enterprises belong to the people of Namibia. They need to be protected and their value for money enhanced, without compromise.

Political appointments at SOEs will be discouraged and an RDP-led government will make sure that appointment is based on qualifications and ability and that performance targets are met. The RDP will therefore ensure that:

• CEOs and MDs will be appointed on five-year performance-based contracts;
• The Central Governance Agency will be empowered to effectively monitor SOEs;
• Board members will be appointed on the basis of expertise and should not serve on more than two public boards;
• Vacancies on boards will be advertised and only candidates with the requisite qualifications will be invited to apply;
• SOEs will receive top priority and will be closely scrutinized with a view to taking corrective measures against those SOEs that continue to drain state coffers; and
• State owned enterprises will not pay dividends to the government, but should rather channel their profits to an Infrastructural Development Fund (IDF) whose mandate would be to invest in the country’s infrastructure, such as, roads, railways, water infrastructure, educational and agricultural facilities, etc.

INDUSTRIALZATION

Namibia’s industrial base is hampered by a lack of political will and by policies that makes it uncompetitive.

The RDP will provide visionary industrial policy with clear targets. Value addition in minerals, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and many more, will be the cornerstone of that policy. An RDP led government will:

• Establish growth points in all regions to ensure rational industrialization;
• Provide adequate resources to encourage research and development and stress their importance to industry;
• Put policies in place to ensure value-addition, employment creation and economic growth through the production of finished goods; and
• Prioritize policies and incentives aimed at attracting investment into productive industries.

INDUSTRY & COMMERCE

The RDP industry and commerce policy is to ensure the emergence and growth of the country’s manufacturing enterprises. Therefore, the RDP-led government will:

• Foster an investor-friendly political and legal environment;
• Establish thriving, competitive, forward-looking economic growth that provides opportunities for empowerment;
• Improve Namibia’s capacity for scientific research and technology development and adaptation;
• Beneficiating the country’s primary products adding value to agricultural and mineral raw materials;

TRADE & INVESTMENT
Goods made in Namibia face tough competition, both in the region and internationally.
It is therefore imperative that a visionary government should give special attention and support to SMEs in order to promote local and regional trade and investment. Therefore, an RDP-led government will:
• While mindful of Namibia’s fragile eco-system, promote tourism and, in particular, beneficiation for the country’s tourism industry and those of South Africa, Botswana and Angola; and
• Concerned that traditional markets are not adequately supplied, the RDP will explore and introduce Namibian products, particularly beef, karakul and small stock, to these and new markets.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Information and communications technology are a hallmark of economic development and functioning democracy. Therefore, the RDP-led government will:
• Develop strategy for the wide use of ICTs for sustainable development;
• Ensure that sufficient funds are invested in the training and development of young Namibians in the field of ICT;
• Ensure internet connectivity across the whole country;
• Address the digital divide; and
• Improve and adopt a legal and regulatory framework that would guarantee secure, effective and efficient e-access, e-transactions and

LAND REFORM & AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

LAND REFORM The present level of land ownership is unacceptable and current attempts at land reform and redistribution have been a dismal failure.

While affirming the principle of willing seller and willing buyer, the RDP will address this situation by setting up a land commission to carry out a complete land audit and make recommendations to government without compromising the following principles:

• Speedy and comprehensive land redistribution;
• Non-alienation of agricultural land;
• Urgent and lawful acquisition of land by government for re-distribution to needy Namibians in order to reverse past social injustices; • Ensuring the productive use of land;
• Development of incubation pro-grammes for resettled farmers, for at least five years, which would include training, infrastructural maintenance, mentoring and coaching (post-graduation assistance); and
• In the case of livestock farming, limit resettlement farming units to not less than 2,800 hectares (of land), to ensure sustainability and prevent the erosion of productive farmland.

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The RDP-led government will en-hance food security by:
• Promoting and stepping up of im-plementation of the Green Scheme projects;
• Providing training and start-up capital to emerging farmers;
• Providing subsidized fertilizers, seed varieties and hybrids;
• Providing incentives to farmers;
• Promoting irrigation schemes to ensure as much as possible year-round agricultural activity;
• Providing marketing infrastructure; and
• Strengthening the activities and broadening the funding model of the Namibian Agricultural Bank.

WOMEN & YOUTH
PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & CHILDREN

Crime against women and children in Namibia has reached frightening levels. The RDP is committed to promote public awareness regarding the evils of these forms of violence and crime. The RDP will therefore;

• Introduce awareness programmes at all levels of the educational system;
• Collaborate with community, traditional and religious leaders and NGOs to fight the scourge of violence; and
• Impose stiffer sentences on those who rape women and children.
WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
We know that the health and education of women boosts our development efforts, yet the concerns of women remain inadequately addressed. Increasing the role of women in government to participate in key decisions and make policy work is crucial.
Therefore the RDP will:
• Strive to achieve at least 50% representation of women, both in government and public service, as well as within our own Party’s political and organizational activities;
• Promote and increase the retention of women in education;
• Increase public information to stop practices that harm or discriminate against women;
• Make reproductive and other female health issues central to social and health policy; and
• enact legislation to safeguard the dignity and rights of women, and effectively return to the policies on Affirmation Action for women.

YOUTH & SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Participation in sports is central to the health and well-being of both our youth and the nation.

Some 60% of the Namibian population consists of the youth. Unfortunately, they bear the brunt of unemployment and lack of access to proper education and training.

Unless this trend is addressed, Namibia’s youth face a doomed future. With the present rate of failure in schools, Namibian youth will be condemned not only to joblessness, but also to indulgence in criminal activities. Therefore, an RDP-led government seeks to:
• Put the education and training of the youth at the top of its priorities;
• Create vocational training and job placement centres in each region;
• Assist the youth to become job creators;
• Establish sport academies in order to promote sports excellence in the country;
• Promote a truly non-partisan National Youth Council (NYC); and
• Expand sports infrastructure, with stadiums and gymnasiums in each region.

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The RDP-led government will ensure that the public service is depoliticized particularly the national security apparatus.

GOVERNMENT RIGHT-SIZING

The Namibian Cabinet plus offices is by all standards, bloated and inefficient. It consumes the lion’s share of the annual budget allocation leaving only a small amount for economic development and education.

The disproportionate size of the Cabinet compared to Namibia’s population and budget was designed to provide job security for ruling party comrades.

The current government has tried to project itself as a world power in the diplomatic sphere, while Namibia is, in reality, a small underdeveloped country.

Instead of hoisting our flags all over the world, we should only have representation to promote two objectives: security, and trade and development of Namibia.

This is a pledge we are making to the electorate.

It costs money and personnel to run a huge bureaucracy and more often then not, the larger the bureaucracy the less effective it becomes. Namibia’s bureaucracy has proved itself ineffective in delivering services to the people. This must end. The RDP-led Government will therefore:

• Reduce the Namibian Cabinet to the right size so that much needed funds can be diverted to where they are most needed;
• Reduce the size of our diplomatic representation;
• Recruit competent working technocrats who are committed to professionalism;
• Embark on a intensive in-service training for current civil servants; and
• Upon taking office, the RDP-led government will immediately abolish the corrupt practice of “jobs for comrades”.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The RDP will defend and protect the Constitution of Namibia, and where required, will initiate constitutional review and amendments in accordance to article 132 of the Constitution.

In the view of the RDP, the current party list system encourages inefficiency, patronage and lack of accountability. Therefore, the RDP led government shall:

• Propose constitutional amendments that replace the party list system with a competitive constituency system, which provides for the direct election of MPs by the electorate; and
• We further propose a constitutional amendment to eliminate the current fusion of power where ministers are also legislators;
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
Namibia is a democratic and unitary state, founded upon the principles of democracy, the rule of law and justice for all.
At present, the existing administration of justice is in a deplorable state, characterized by long delays in concluding trial cases (sometimes up to 10 years). Justice delayed is justice denied!
Inconsistent application of the law due to political interference will be a thing of the past. The RDP led government will, therefore:
• Strengthen the independence of the judiciary system;
• Review the due process in the handling of cases;
• Ensure the recruitment of competent and adequate law enforcement agents and judicial staff;
• Review the penal system to ensure that the punishment is consistent with the crime committed and human right violated;
• Introduce alternative methods for rehabilitation of petty crime offenders; and
• Introduce juvenile courts to give due consideration to these offenders and their rehabilitation.

CORRUPTION & CRIME

Corruption and crime are some of the most negative societal behaviours that hinder progress, development and wealth-creation in Namibia.

Corruption at all levels, crime and violence, particularly violence against women and children, have seen a dramatic increase.
Despite the government’s professed zero-tolerance for corruption and violence against women and children, and the putting in place of measures to combat this scourge, it nevertheless continues unabated.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

The RDP-led government would formulate a genuine National Reconciliation policy whereby past mistakes and wrong doings are to be openly admitted and forgiven. We believe that this is the only way to bring about true reconciliation.

The RDP is resolutely committed to fighting corruption and crime. It will therefore:

• Raise public awareness of the negative effects of crime and corruption on development and wealth creation;
• Introduce stiffer punitive measures for serious offenders;
• Promote private/public partnership initiatives to combat crime and corruption;
• Improve the capacity and resources of the Namibian police to effectively prevent and fight crime;
• Ensure the efficient functioning of all anti-corruption structures and systems, whistle-blowing, and blacklisting of corrupt companies and individuals;
• Ensure that the director of the ACC is appointed by the judicial commission to be headed by a retired Judge of the High Court; and
• Ensure quicker processes to deal with alleged corrupt public officials, civil servants and private sector companies and individuals.

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES

Traditional Authorities are the centrepiece and custodians of our culture and traditions. They thus need to be upheld and strengthened.

The RDP-led government will therefore work closely with the traditional authorities to promote and
maintain cultural heritage and to instill a spirit of accountability.

FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA

The RDP recognizes the critical role of a free and independent media in a democratic society.
The RDP is concerned with the increasing attempt to stifle the media by the current government.
The RDP-led government shall::
• Protect and promote a vibrant free and independent media; and
• Lift with immediate effect the reactionary ban on The Namibian newspaper

DEFENCE & SECURITY

It is the objective of the RDP to ensure that the security forces are kept as professional forces capable of not only protecting Namibian citizens and the country’s territorial integrity but also of continuing to participate in international peacekeeping operations.

Therefore, the RDP-led government will ensure that the security forces are:

• Depoliticized;
• Highly trained and adequately equipped;
• Prepared and equipped to actively participate in civil disaster relief operations;
• Enabled to advance professionally and academically; and
• Assured of good conditions of employment in terms of salaries, transport, housing allowances, medical aid schemes and medical facilities.

POLICE

The RDP-led government will ensure that the police are made an effective, impartial service delivery force that is efficient and effective in protecting the Namibian people.

WAR VETERANS ASSISTANCE

Recognition shall be accorded to those Namibians who participated in the country’s liberation struggle to free Namibia from colonial rule. The RDP-led government will make a commitment to review the conditions of veterans with a view to improving their needs, such as, basic welfare grant, housing and medical care. As in the case of the defence force, police officers would be accorded the same conditions of service including health and medical care, decent houses, particularly in rural areas and proper retirement benefits

THE ROLE OF FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT

Historically the church and other faith based institutions have played and continue to play a major role in Namibian society. The RDP led government will therefore:

• Foster partnership with the church and other faith-based institutions to promote social and welfare development;

PRINCIPLE OF FOREIGN POLICY

Namibia’s foreign policy will be guided by three principles namely; the defence of Namibia’s national sovereignty, preservation of its democracy and economic prosperity. The RDPled government will:
• Subscribe to the UN, AU and SADC charters;
• Collaborate with the church and other faith based institutions in combating social evils, such as, alcoholism, drug abuse and other forms of moral degeneration; and
• Assist in their efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and in the provision of care and counselling.
• Promote and support democracy and peace in the region and beyond;
• Promote the principle of equal rights and the self-determination of peoples; and
• Promote economic diplomacy.

DEFENDING LABOUR

Aware of the many challenges faced by Namibian workers, the RDP-led government will introduce policy
measures to:
• Promote the full utilization of workers;
• Guarantee a living wage;
• Ensure increasing education and training opportunities for workers, at both technical and professional levels;
• Give particular attention to the observance and implementation of labour legislation, especially with regard to the protection of workers’ rights such as maternity leave, health and safety at work, and the right to strike; and
• Expand the social security system, to include a national pension scheme and unemployment insurance.

VOTE RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS
The Rally for Democracy & Progress (RDP) Tel/Fax: +264 61 255 973
E-mail: rdpparty@iway.na
Website: RDP :: The Rally for Democracy and Progress