Staff Reporter
OBETH Kandjoze, Director-General of the National Planning Commission (NPC) has stated that cabinets decision-making when it comes to developmental planning has been hampered by a lack of statistics, especially when it comes the recent halting of the National Housing and Income Expenditure census.
Kandjoze made this remark at the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator framework 2021 and the upgraded SDG portal by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
The SDG indicator framework 2021 launched at the event presents the first update of the SDG-NDP-5 2019 and compliments Namibia’s Second Voluntary National Review report on the implementation of the SDG’s Towards Agenda 2030.
The second part of the report provides a detailed overview of the updates that have been made to the Namibian SDG’s indicator framework.
Kandjoze stated that the abeyance of the census has been pushed to limit and as such compromises government’s planning process whilst the population is looking forward toward economic development.
He added that government requires a central data base which will speak towards the plight of communities.
“Schools have reopened and there will be reports on a lack of teachers or facilities. Newspapers cannot be ahead of government when it comes to reporting peoples struggles. We are unable to reflect statistically in the chamber of cabinet on issues such as teenage pregnancies. The NSA needs to enable and wire government to a core data base for better service delivery,” Kandjoze said.
The minister further stated that from 22 to 29 July, there will be a Governor’s Conference that will be held in Katima Mulilo which will take stock of developmental progress in the different regions, and added that the NSA’s portal launch is relevant to the conference.
He added that some governors have questioned the planning commission on what its calculations are based on when allocating funds to certain regions.
“The needs of regions are not all the same. Yes, we do divide the funds but there is no measured approach towards discharging funds to regions, this is an issue,” Kandjoze said.
Kandjoze stated that some municipalities and local authorities develop more quicker than others, which has brought about a question of equitable access.
Touching on the SDG’s the director stated that opportunities at local level has disappeared due to Covid-19 and some places are taking a backward step in terms of development. He shared that there is need for advice on policy directions and the two to three years to get data delays this process.
Statistician General at the NSA, Alex Shimuafeni also shared the same concerns of Kandjoze and stated that the delay in census is detrimental.
“In the absence of census and surveys we are using administrative data, e.g. statistics from hospitals in terms of birth records etc. This supplements the lack of data. Administrative data can however not replace the census, as census includes data which includes those in remote areas and also touch on those who are vulnerable and would need financial assistance from government,” Shimuafeni said.
Shimuafeni also acknowledged that the newly launched SDG portal mostly has old statistics. “When it comes to SDG baseline indicators when you do not have recent statistics, you are marked as non-performing. The portal has however shown what data is lacking, and what more needs to be done in the SDG’s. It is unfortunate that we have an updated SDG portal without the latest data,” the statistician general said.
With regard to funding the census, Shimuafeni stated that the political will is there and the only variable missing is the funds. He stated that the NSA will need about N$835 million to complete the task.
PICTURED: Obeth Kandjoze. Photo: File
