by Denis Flinn | Feb 20, 2016 | News
Namibia’s Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Zephania Kameeta, announced last Thursday that a Basic Income Grant was being submitted for Cabinet approval and presented the blueprint to fellow Ministers.
The blueprint seeks to expand on an early Basic Income Guarantee, which was put in place in a limited area in 2008, ran steadily for two years, and intermittently after that. Noting that many households rely on the current basic as their primary source of income, Kameeta wants to continue to shift the government’s focus further toward poverty eradication — with the goal of eradicating poverty by 2025.
Among other recommendations, the blueprint lays out strategies for redistributing wealth and revising land distribution regulation in both rural and urban areas.
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Nampa, “Basic Income Grant to be submitted for Cabinet Approval“, February 4, 2016
by Joe Timothy | Dec 19, 2015 | News
After months of meetings, studies and reports on Basic Income, Namibia takes another step forward towards adopting a basic income policy. President Hage Geingob has announced new plans that will aim to eradicate poverty by 2025. At the heart of this radical strategy is the introduction of basic income grants.
The “Harambe towards prosperity” Masterplan sets out a variety of new policy ideas to kick-start the Namibian economy. These ideas are aimed at building a stronger infrastructure, and introducing major economic and social developments. Alongside basic income grants the plan also commits to major infrastructure projects such as: improved commuter trains, housing for government employees, and improved energy and water provision.
The central goal of the plan is to eradicate poverty by 2025, and the government believes that basic income grants will be the primary mechanism by which this happens. The government hopes to introduce cash payments to each citizen regardless of age or income.
However, unlike a pure form of basic income, Namibia’s may come with some conditions. “The basic income grant will be revised and linked to the activities of the food bank. Other conditions may be attached to the BIG, thereby making it a conditional basic income grant,” stated President Geingob.
These ambitious plans don’t come without their challenges, however. Namibia has major problems with housing, water supply and very high levels of unemployment. These issues along with recently criticized infrastructure projects may prove to be major challenges to President Geingob’s plans and thereby the introduction of any basic income grants. Nonetheless, basic income has been on the political agenda in Namibia for some time and this is another step in introducing it into mainstream politics and decision-making.
For more information, see the following source:
Shinovene Immanuel, “Geingob makes more promises” , The Namibian, December 15, 2015
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.
For more information, click on the following link.
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 BIEN | Sep 7, 2015 | Research
This report examines the impact of an emergency cash grant distributed by churches in Namibia modeled on the Basic Income Grant Pilot in Otjivero. During the 2012/2013 summer months, the precipitation deficits varied between 20% and 90%, which resulted in one of the worst recorded droughts in Namibia that left 36% of the population food insecure. The cash grant’s impact was significant and life saving. During the baseline, 63% of people involved suffered from insufficient food daily or at least once a week. Following the grant, 77% of people did not lack food during the month Individuals used the remaining 40% of the money to meet health related expenditure, to invest in schooling and farming. Prior to the project, about 60% surveyed preferred cash over food aid or fodder for the animals, after five months of receiving the grant, this figure rose to nearly 95%.
Claudia and Dirk Haarmann, “Relief through cash: Impact assessment of the emergency cash grant in Namibia” BIG Coalition Namibia, July 2015.
