Pohamba slams disregard of predecessors’ projects

Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba has criticised how projects initiated by previous presidents are left in limbo by their successors, citing the current state of green schemes introduced by late founding president Sam Nujoma.His remarks echo similar concerns he previously expressed about how his own mass housing initiative was largely abandoned after he left office.Speaking at Etunda village in Omusati Region during Nujoma&#039;s memorial service last Thursday night, Pohamba urged president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to avoid discarding key projects initiated by her predecessors when she takes office next month.Namibian Sun understands that reviving the green schemes is one of the priorities topping Nandi-Ndaitwah&#039;s agenda.“We want Netumbo, when you take over, to increase where Sam Nujoma, Hifikepunye Pohamba and Hage Geingob, including Nangolo Mbumba, left off," Pohamba said, underlining that Mbumba served as president for only one year.“Netumbo, you are going to take over the government of this country. The leadership of Swapo, we want to see things added to what we have done when I was president. Nujoma will be happy to see us add to what he has done. To his programmes,” he told Nandi-Ndaitwah.Dead in the water Pohamba was succeeded by Geingob, whose death last February saw Mbumba ascending to the presidency.Pohamba said he supported the green schemes that the Nujoma administration created and “added some more” himself during his 2005 to 2015 term.“Those things are no more. They are dead,” he stressed.Several green scheme projects in the two Kavango regions were unable to continue planting due to alleged lack of financial support from subsequent administrations. These include the Shitemo and Shadikongoro green schemes, both located in the Kavango East Region, which have halted operations.However, other green schemes, including Ndonga Linena, have continued production, albeit with a reduction in their size. “Please, let’s increase what Nujoma has done,” Pohamba urged, adding that his predecessor also built the 246.5 km railway line from Tsumeb to Ondangwa. Pohamba said when his administration took over, it extended the railway to the border town of Oshikango.Housing crisis neglected This is not the first time the former president has taken a swipe at current leadership for not supporting projects initiated by their predecessors.In February 2020, Pohamba, in an interview with Nampa, said he was unhappy that a majority of Namibians still lack decent housing, despite several government interventions aimed at addressing the country’s housing crisis.At the time, the former president’s main concern was the mass housing programme – his brainchild – which was suspended in 2015 during Geingob&#039;s time in office. “When I was in office, I introduced the mass housing programme and although there were problems here and there, it was worth continuing. Unfortunately, the administration that followed mine changed it. I think I would have liked to see it go ahead,” he was quoted as saying.With a housing backlog of 110 000 and statistics showing that at least 900 000 Namibians live in shacks, Pohamba acknowledged that the government had failed to address the housing crisis over the past 30 years.All on board He pointed out that after visiting places in Katutura, Greenwell Matongo and Tobias Hainyeko and seeing the condition of people&#039;s homes, &#039;you sympathise with those living in them.&#039;The intention of Namibia&#039;s N$45 billion mass housing initiative was to build 185 000 houses by 2030. However, the project was put on hold in 2015 amid widespread irregularities in the tender awarding process, which led President Hage Geingob to call for an audit of the mega project.The audit report has not been made public.Pohamba urged Nandi-Ndaitwah last week to bring stability to the Namibian people once she assumes the role of head of state. “We must commit ourselves to carry on where Nujoma has left,” Pohamba said.He also challenged Namibians to ask themselves what they will do for the country.“Now you talk about what Nujoma did. But you don’t talk about what you are going to do. Ask yourself, what am I going to do? Promote what Nujoma has done. This is the message I have for you. Traditional authorities, you should build roads going to villages. Ask government for money and take it up,” Pohamba said to a loud round of applause.- tuyeimo@nmh-hub.com.na

Pohamba slams disregard of predecessors’ projects

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-24

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Pohamba slams disregard of predecessors’ projects

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-24

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