2017 a year of rededication – Geingob

2017 a year of rededication – Geingob President Hage Geingob, in his new year’s message, says the year 2017 should be one of rededication.
“Our single-minded resolution as government is to rededicate ourselves to the full implementation of our goals and objectives, during 2017. This is therefore, The Year of Rededication,” said Geingob.
He further noted that challenges experienced in 2016 will persist in the new year.
However, a resilient and innovative approach will be required to mitigate the severity of those challenges.
“The tough economic outlook will require us to draw on the experiences and lessons learned during 2016 and to engage in difficult debates over limited resources and competing priorities,” he said. According to Geingob, government has prioritised a number of initiatives for the year 2017 such as increasing old age grants to N$1 200 by June as well as providing subsidised ploughing services, fertilisers and seeds to communal farmers in rural areas.
A second land conference will also be held by September 2017, while government has promised to service land for residential purposes with 6 000 plots and 5 000 housing units planned for the new year. According to Geingob, the Public Procurement Act will become operational in February 2017 and this will enable a first ever computerised procurement system that will enhance transparency. The president also has a message for sport lovers.
“The state of affairs in the sports sector remains a concern to all sport loving Namibians. To this end the line ministry will conclude its review of the Sports Act and policy, aiming to define and prioritise the national sport codes, which will guide funding and development,” he said.
“As I draw to a close, I commend those Namibians who have excelled in boxing and athletics, in particular the paralympians. The uniformed personnel who continue to serve selflessly. Similarly, I thank all Namibians for what we have achieved together throughout 2016. We would not have been able to achieve the milestones we are celebrating, without your personal dedicated involvement. Neither can we realise our 2017 goals, without our rededication to the cause.”

STAFF REPORTER