You have news tips, feel free to contact us via email editor@thevillager.com.na

BIG COALITION SHOOTS DOWN GOVT ‘LIP SERVICE’

The Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition has shot down government’s recent response on the BIG, labeling it as a mere talk show.
Economic Justice Trust’s Rinaani Musutua told Eagle FM that while it was a positive move for government to express public opinion on the matter, such opinion has sadly not been transforming into tangible progress.
Musutua said the coalition needed government to have a tangible programme in place to support the initiative, else it will be reduced to a simple talk show.
She said the N$300 counter proposal by government for the BIG would not suffice, as it will not be enough to have people survive on.
Musutua noted that government’s stance to have the BIG only reserved for those unemployed would not be practical.
“To determine who is unemployed and who is not is a problem. It would be better to have a universal grant. That way we will be able to cover a wide audience,” she said.
The BIG Coalition of Namibia, spearheaded by the Economic and Social Justice Trust, has proposed a monthly grant of N$500, which economists estimate could cost the country as much as N$13 billion per annum, assuming a population of 2.35 million up to the age of 60 years. Musutua said government always knew that universal BIG is feasible.

Julia Heita

Related Posts

Read Also ... x