explicitly prevent the retrenchments of workers during the lock-down. Employers
should be required to continue paying their staff and in cases where they are financially
unable to do so, they must provide proof to government as a precondition to be
assisted through tax exemptions etc. A particular focus will have to be on small and
medium-size enterprises who will face the greatest challenges in maintaining and
paying workers.
2. Available data of the Namibian labour market indicate that only a minority of
Namibians have permanent jobs with income security and benefits. The majority are
in insecure forms of employment, with low salaries often as low as N$ 1500 — 2500
per month. Many are in seasonal or contract employment or have no sources of
income at all, depending on relatives and friends for survival. In a situation like this,
government must immediately step in and the most effective way are cash grants to
households. Our failure to implement the Basic Income Grant (BIG) comes to haunt
us now and this must certainly be redressed in the very near future. An immediate
intervention to secure survival was provided by Rwanda where President Kagame
reportedly decided to provide free food, water and electricity to avoid collection of
firewood. Government officials were instructed move from house to house to provide
food and this happens under supervision to avoid favouritism. Taking food to
households prevents people from having to queue which would put them at risk.
3. Such support for vulnerable households can be partly funded through the reserve
fund of the Social Security Commission which must be directed accordingly. It has a
special responsibility to provide social protection for Namibians and has to take
extraordinary steps in this time of crisis. Likewise, NAMWATER and NAMPOWER
have to be instructed to render the required support to households and municipalities.
4. For the period of the lock-down, government should declare a moratorium on rent
and bond payments so that nobody loses housing or falls into further debt. This cannot
be left at the discretion of financial institutions.
5. Finally, we suggest immediate steps to stop racketeering and price hikes on
essential goods like food, hand sanitizers, masks etc. South Africa provided a good
example in this regard by making such practices punishable by a fine of N$ 1 million
or 10% of the business turnover. Furthermore, businesses are named and shamed
for such ruthless and selfish practices. This is something we need to follow
immediately as some shops are already guilt of racketeering.
These are some of the immediate interventions required to mitigate the socio-
economic impact of the Corona pandemic. In the medium-term, we need to solve the
housing and sanitation crisis, improve our public health care system, implement an
unemployment insurance scheme and provide a basic income grant for all. Only then
will Namibia be able to improve livelihoods and be better prepared for future
challenges.
Herbert Jauch
ESJT Chairperson
8.0, Sox 96179, Windhoek, Namibia £:at: esjtrust@gmail.com ‘s!: +264-811243438 (chairperson)
Trustees: Rinaani Musutua, Michael Gaweseb, Herbert Jauch, John Nakuta and Doufi Namalambo
