by Josh Martin | Oct 20, 2015 | News
Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Zephania Kameeta, a longtime supporter of basic income, has conducted multiple meetings with groups from all 14 regions in Namibia on the topic of interventions to eradicate poverty and distribute wealth more equally in Namibia. As a result of these meetings, Kameeta and the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare are compiling a detailed report on such interventions, including the possibility of a basic income. The report should be compiled and ready for discussion at the national conference on October 26th.
This basic income interest continues the movement started by the basic income grant pilot project from 2007 to 2009, which granted N$100 per month to all residents under 60 years old in Otjivero-Omitara.
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by Karl Widerquist | Oct 4, 2015 | Research
ABSTRACT: Namibia is still characterised by deep socio-economic inequalities, as economic structures have remained largely intact after independence. Poverty is still widespread and unemployment has remained high with women and youth being particularly affected. In 2002, the Namibian government’s Tax Commission proposed a universal cash grant as the most effective way to fight poverty and to reduce inequality. In 2004, the Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition was formed consisting of churches, trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in support of the proposed grant. It implemented a pilot project to practically demonstrate the effects of the grant. The chosen location was the village of Otjivero where each inhabitant received a monthly cash grant of N$100 (US$9)beginning in January 2008. A research team closely monitored developments and found that within one year the rates of poverty, child malnutrition and school drop-outs had fallen significantly. Economic activities increased, school results and residents’ health status improved while the crime rate and women’s economic dependency on men were reduced. Despite these results, the Namibian government did not implement the BIG and the coalition failed to ignite a mass campaign. The country’s largest trade union federation did not play an active role and its leadership withdrew from the coalition despite support for the BIG among union members. The introduction of a BIG in Namibia will depend on the ability to the BIG coalition to create pressure ‘from below’. Trade unions and youth organisations in particular will have to mobilise their membership and present the demand for the BIG as a form of economic justice. In terms of financial and economic resources, Namibia could easily afford a national BIG and its introduction is a question of political will.
Herbert Jauch, “The Rise and Fall of the Basic Income Grant Campaign: Lessons from Namibia.” Global Labour Journal, Vol. 6, No. 3 (2015)
Global Labour Journal
by Liam Upton | Jul 2, 2015 | News
The Namibian Minister for Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Zephania Kameeta, has confirmed in an interview that his government is ‘strongly considering’ a Basic Income grant, adding that his ministry is in the process of finalising a concept paper on the issue.
Kameeta is a longtime proponent of Basic Income and former chairperson of the Namibian BIG Coalition. He was appointed Minister for Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare in March this year, sparking hopes among Basic Income advocates of progress towards its implementation.
However, the Minister did not make clear whether this would be Basic Income, i.e. an unconditional, universal payment, or if it would be restricted to the poor and/or those not on other government benefits, a policy known by the similar title, Guaranteed Minimum Income. The Minister has previously advocated giving grants only to those below 60 who earn below the tax threshold of N$50,000, leading to some confusion. Kameeta said his ministry was in the process of finalising a paper on the issue, which will probably clarify those questions.
The Namibian BIG Coaltion has challenged the Minister and President Hage Geingob to introduce a Basic Income of N$200, with newly elected chairperson, Wilfred Diergaardt, arguing that it would cost only 5 to 6% of the national budget to do so. The Coalition previously ran a Basic Income experiment in the Otjivero-Omitara district, with very positive reported results.
For more information, see:
Jemima Buekes, “Govt ‘strongly considering’ basic income grant”, Namibian Sun, 29 June 2015
by BIEN | Jun 27, 2015 | News
The Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare of Namibia, has come out in criticism of Namibia’s current economic model based on self-interest and profit in favor of the Blue Economy, an economic philosophy centered around social and environmental justice. Kameeta, who was appointed by President Hage Geingob with the goal of tackling poverty head-on and narrowing the gap between the rich and poor, is advocating for the Basic Income Grant (BIG). Kameeta’s program would provide a universal minimum income allowance be paid to any person not above 60 years of age who is not earning above the tax threshold (currently N$ 50,000 per year) and is not receiving any other government grant, such as disability grant, maintenance grant or war veteran grant. Namibia experimented with the BIG from 2008-2009 by providing recipients a monthly grant of N$100. Kameeta renewed his support for the BIG and criticized Namibia’s economic model during the Blue Economy Conference in Windhoek on April 27-28 2015.
For more information on Bishop Kameeta’s advocacy for the BIG, see:
“Calls to review Namibia’s economic model” The Southern Times. May 11, 2015.
by Toru Yamamori | May 17, 2015 | News
Leon Schreiber, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin, argues BIG as ‘silent revolution’.
Leon Schreiber, “Small Yet BIG: The Basic Income Guarantee,” The Huffington Post, 23 April 2015.
