(06.03.2007) The former Prime Minister of Namibia and current Member of Parliament, Honourable Dr. Hage Geingob, has called on Government to introduce the Basic Income Grant (BIG) in Namibia. Geingob used his address to the National Assembly on 1st March to call for the introduction of the BIG. He linked the high incidents of poverty and high unemployment rates to the increase of crime, bad behaviour and lack of respect.

He concluded: »Poverty is a curse. I would therefore like the government to take up the NCC proposal [the] Basic Income Grant proposal for all Namibians who do not have any source of income. This proposal was elaborated on by Bishop Kameeta in his address at the United Nations Commission for Social Development.«

Geingob is the first high ranking Namibian politician to openly call for the introduction of the Basic Income Grant in Parliament. Since he is the current Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration his assessment is extremely important. He told Parliament:

»We certainly have the capacity to address poverty frontally, and the Basic Income Grant is certainly one instrument we should consider. Our economy is also healthy and can easily sustain such a project. [...] Gradually, we must translate our economic boom into a decent life for our only two million citizens. In the meantime, we must provide as from now, a safety net for our poor.«

Claudia & Dirk Haarmann, Namibia