Stefanus Nashama
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Leader, Panduleni Itula, said that social grants were not created by the struggle for the independence of Namibia nor do political parties provide it.
Itula said the government, as stipulated in Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution provides the pension.
He said people should understand that even during colonial times, the regime of the day was providing social grants to senior citizens.
He stressed that Article 95 of the constitution states that, senior citizens are entitled to regular pensions.
Itula stressed that many people especially elders have misunderstood the concept of the pension and how it came into existence, and with this, they think it is given by political parties which is not true. This means for them, voting for a new government could mean an end to pensions (social grants).
“The pension does not come from political parties. It was not brought about by independence, it is in the Constitution. It does not matter which political party is governing,” he said.
Itula made these remarks on Friday while addressing a group of people in Katima Mulilo where a new IPC branch was established.
He explained that people who think pension is given by political parties should know that they have been mistaken.
Itula also explained that political parties should not use pension grants to manipulate people to gain votes, adding that whatever the government takes over, the pension will be there and people will continue to receive all the benefits they are entitled to.
He stated that senior citizens are sometimes manipulated and fooled by political campaigns and that if a new government comes in, the pension will stop.
“In Simbinda, in Zambezi, the councillor is IPC. In Windhoek West, the councilor is IPC. In Walvis Bay Regional Council, two of the councillors are IPC. In Swakopmund, the councillor is IPC. However, people, there are still receiving their pension and the other benefits they are entitled to. This is because of what is written in the Constitution. Why did the pension not stop when IPC members took over in those areas if such pension was provided by political parties as some may believe?,” Itula remarked.
He has since urged Namibians to study and understand the constitution better to avoid being manipulated and fooled by what he termed cheap political campaigns.
“Namibia is all we have, we must and shall save it,” Itula said.
