WINDHOEK – Two months before the nation goes to the polls, the Congress of Democrats (CoD) last weekend released its 2009 party manifesto.

The document that promises to harness the creative energies of all the people particularly the youth was launched at Mariental on Saturday.

President of the party, Ben Ulenga, said CoD is the only opposition party that has, in the past 10 years, called for change.

Thus, the party will contest the 2009 elections with the aim to win and govern Namibia.

He says once in power, the CoD government will act swiftly to expand and diversify the economy to create employment, replace the “rotten” education system, change the health system and put government money in projects that benefit the nation (the poor). The party does not say how they will do this.

According to Ulenga, “young people – the majority of our population – are not empowered. The youth are sidelined … at school they are given only half the books they require to study and pass exams”.

The party believes time has come for Namibia to invest sufficient resources in the 70 percent of the country’s population.

These are youths aged 35 and below.

“CoD is unequivocally convinced that investing in the youth of our country remains our ultimate insurance policy,” says the document.

According to the CoD, institutions of higher learning remain crucial to the youth, as they are leaders of tomorrow.

Thus funds should be availed to release the inquisitive faculty and energy of the Namibian youths in order to participate in politics as well as in the full spectrum of human endeavour.

About 40 percent of the people especially the youth are unemployed and this is attributed to appalling records in education delivery, which, if not changed, will result in ever-growing numbers of poverty and joblessness.

“While we are mindful of the multiple challenges facing our country, we will make education and skills training a priority among priorities when elected to office,” says the document.

The party says it will roll out libraries to all schools and ensure that learners are equipped with necessary textbooks. CoD will further ensure teachers are properly trained and all learning centres/schools are provided with software and computers.

Shelter remains another area in the country that the CoD says should receive urgent attention. Despite being a country that believes a roof over one’s head is a basic human need and right, the housing backlog is estimated at 60 percent according to the party.

“We need to build not only houses, but sustainable and livable neighbourhoods with places and parks where our kids can play, shopping centres, gyms and clinics,” says CoD.

The party further promises, “The CoD government shall develop a clear housing policy aimed at guiding the delivery of housing to the homeless of our cities, towns and rural villages.”

Other areas the party will look into are the support for the Basic Income Grant, black economic empowerment measures, land acquisition and redistribution, agriculture potential empowerment of smallholder farmers and corruption.

New Era