RP to cut Govt ministries to14, dissolve regional councils

The Republican Party (RP) has promised to reduce the country’s ministries from 23 to 14 if voted into power.

This is contained in the party’s manifesto which was launched in Windhoek last month by party president Henk Mudge.

Mudge also promised to amend the Constitution, adding that the party will promote the dissolvement of regional councils and for the National Council to be constituted with two representatives from each region.

The new ministries he said will be the ministry of foreign affairs, justice and constitutional development, defence, finance (to include national planning), education, works and transport (to include information) and trade and industry (to include state-owned enterprises).

He also promised a health ministry (which will include social welfare, gender equality and child welfare), a home affairs and immigration ministry (to include safety and security), and a natural resources ministry (to include fisheries and marine resources, and mines and energy).

Others will be the ministry of regional and local government, housing and rural development, the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry (which will include land resettlement), ministry of environment and tourism, and the ministry of employment creation and poverty reduction.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

“The RP will oppose any irresponsible and party-motivated amendments to the Constitution … as well as any effort to infringe upon the fundamental rights enshrined in chapter 3 of the Constitution,” Mudge said.

He added: “However, one constitutional change that the RP will promote is for the dissolvement of regional councils and for the National Council to have two representatives from each region.”

Mudge said the representatives will be elected in a National Council election where nominations will be submitted by regions, and the two candidates with the most votes will be elected to the National Council.