UDF Promises Development of All


Windhoek — The United Democratic Front (UDF) promises all Namibians the best contract entitling them to "democratic governance and development".


The party has launched its elections manifesto. Living up to its theme of "Towards Empowering All", the party promises to reclaim the Namibian constitution, democratic governance and nation building as well as reform the education system. It also promises to protect the country against crime, social injustice and unaccountability as well as provide affordable and quality health care and social welfare.

UDF promises to fulfil the decentralisation dream, eradicate poverty, realign land distribution, agriculture and environment, enhance regional integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and global relations and also empower all including the youth, women, elders, veterans, families, workforce, people with disabilities and orphans and vulnerable children.

Party President Justus Garoëb says Namibia has the potential for economic independence within the next five years as long as there is political will and zero tolerance towards corruption. The country's budget could be spent better to cover all Namibians while health services and social welfare could become more accessible and affordable to all.

"Employment can be created. Land can be [put to] best uses, if peacefully agreed and equitably utilised for the benefit of all Namibians to sustain our future," he says.

The UDF promises to increase job opportunities by allocating three percent of the budget to job creation and ensure every unemployed Namibian gets a basic income grant allowance of N$350. It will build a nation without walls and consider forming an all-inclusive government with all political parties who are ready to accept the manifesto as a basis of the new government's programme. It is also to abolish the current bi-cameral parliamentary system for a one-chamber system thereby strengthening the link between the elected representatives and their electorate.


Under a UDF government, primary education becomes free and compulsory to encourage and afford the rural poor an opportunity to get educated. The party will build more schools to cater for the needs of the society and update hostel facilities as well as ensure other infrastructure are also well maintained. Although the party supports private schools, it wants them regulated to ensure all children have access to them. All learners are to be given the chance to repeat Grade 10 and dropouts the opportunity to study at vocational training centres.

The UDF wants the government to be the main financier of tertiary education by contributing 90 percent and the students who can afford 10 percent, while poor students will make no contributions. The party says it will raise awareness and improve crime prevention measures and equip the police with the best technology and innovative strategies to prevent and fright crime. It will engage the whole society to come up with strategies to prevent domestic violence and violence against women and children.

"Special funding will be made available to assist such violence eradication programmes," reads the manifesto pointing out the country needs 1000 more police to patrol the streets and villages.

The UDF will start a national campaign against sexual immorality because the party believes families alone cannot take responsibility for their children. The authority of traditional authorities will also be restored for them to bring back law, order and noble traditional values. To empower all, the UDF will realign the National Youth Council to become an impartial youth development council and platform. It is to create a National Women's Council to develop and monitor women empowerment programmes and will ensure 50 percent female representation in politics. By 2015 women shall have a 40 percent representation in parastatals through affirmative action.


New Era