STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. HAGE G. GEINGOB, ON THE OCCASSION OF THE 20TH COVID-19 PUBLIC BRIEFING ON THE NATIONAL RESPONSE MEASURES
Fellow Namibians,
At the outset, I would like to thank all Namibians for the peaceful and orderly manner in which you have conducted yourselves during the campaigns leading up to the recently held Local and Regional Authority elections. Our multi-party democracy has grown roots and is maturing. Thank you to all voters who took time to participate in this democratic process. Ultimately, democracy and the people of Namibia are the winners.
As we find ourselves drawing closer to the festive season, I am aware that you are prioritizing various family and social events. However, we should bear in mind that COVID-19 remains a threat. To date, fourteen-thousand-three-hundred-and-fortyfive (14,345) people have been infected with the virus in our country and the lives of 151 Namibians have been lost. In this regard, we pay particular homage to our frontline-workers who have been working diligently to ensure that our fight is robust and effective.
Namibia continues to tackle the pandemic on different fronts as prescribed by our National COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Plan, which focuses on safeguarding public health and the livelihood of our people.
This pandemic is the biggest challenge to face our country since independence, both in its nature and scope. Equally, Government’s response to the pandemic has been extensive and resolute, in terms of resource mobilization to suppress the spread of the virus, while responding to associated socio-economic impacts.
In terms of its effects, the pandemic has had a negative impact on our lives and livelihoods. No aspect of our society has been left untouched. Our economy has borne the brunt of this pandemic in terms of jobs that have been lost, reduced productivity, business closures and declining disposable income. The full extent of this impact on our economy is yet to be fully determined.
The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation in collaboration with the Namibia Statistics Agency will further ascertain the scope of the impact on business, economy and jobs. Some indicators are clear though.
It is against this background that the pace of the economic recovery will depend crucially on policy interventions and actions that will be taken beyond the lockdown. The Government is seized with final preparations for a holistic recovery programme for the nation, as was committed to during the Mid-Term Budget Review in October 2020.