Africa-Press – Namibia. Ahead of the 2026 Parliament opening session on Tuesday, members of the public have called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to prioritise poverty eradication, service delivery and job creation.
Some members of the public have expressed mixed views on last year’s performance.
Speaking to Nampa in Windhoek, resident Paul van Wyk said, although some progress was made during the previous parliamentary year, more attention must be directed toward improving living conditions in informal settlements.
“They did well in some areas, but some laws were implemented without really impacting people on the ground,” he said.
Van Wyk emphasised that poverty remains a major concern despite Namibia’s natural resource wealth and small population.
“We are a country with a small population and many resources, but there are still many poor people living in very bad conditions in informal settlements,” he said, adding that government should prioritise serviced land and affordable housing to improve livelihoods.
He suggested that authorities consider providing free serviced plots to residents while allowing them to pay gradually for utilities such as water and electricity.
Meanwhile, Natangwe Simon said, while Parliament showed effort last year, MPs must focus more on fulfilling promises made to voters and promoting economic empowerment.
“They must remember where they come from and the promises they made to the people who voted for them,” he said.
He stressed that Parliament should prioritise initiatives that empower citizens to create their own employment opportunities instead of relying solely on government-provided jobs.
“We don’t want leaders who only debate and oppose each other. We want leaders who bring development and teach people how to create jobs for themselves,” he said.
Both residents noted that Parliament plays a critical role in driving national development, and urged lawmakers to ensure that policies adopted translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives. -Nampa
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