The National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) says the Coronavirus has exposed the vulnerability of Namibia and its dependence on imports. NUDO’s secretary-general (SG) Joseph Kauandenge in a media statement on Monday said the pandemic has laid open Namibia’s inability to feed itself in a prolonged period, a situation NUDO blames on 30 years of Government’s inability to empower local production of any consumable products as well as poor investment in human capital and especially in small and medium markets. Our reporter Daniel Nadunya engaged Kauandenge in a WhatsApp chat and first asked him to substantiate his statement. Joseph Kauandenge: It is very disturbing to note that Namibia’s inability to produce any consumable products is a recipe for disaster and in the long run it will make us sitting ducks and most vulnerable, because of our inability to feed our own people should anything happen to the supply chain from South Africa. Our Economic trajectory does not instil confidence at this point that we have the much-needed muscles to stand on our own, proudly and without worrying where the next meal will come from in times of calamity. That needs to be addressed with speed and precision. Daniel Nadunya: Am I right to say you are claiming that there was little to no honesty from leaders about the country’s capacity to sustain itself? JK: There was no honestly really from the leadership. They were pretending as if Namibia is able to sustain itself and now it is clear that these 30 years are wasted years. Big time. DN: So we have no economic muscle? Are we headed for the worst? JK: My young brother, we are useless as a country without South Africa. And that I will put at the doorstep of the SWAPO leadership. They haven’t done anything for the past 30 years to invest in local capacity. DN: But are you willing to also take the blame as opposition politicians for being toothless? Have you done your part in taking Government to task, to ensure transparency and accountability but also to enforce compliance and implementation of economic policies? JK: The arrogance of SWAPO over the past 30 years because of the two-thirds majority was a disaster. Surely there were many good proposals from the oppositions but did they listen? How many proposals and motions were tabled in Parliament to try to address this particular issue? but every time Swapo will use their majority to silence and reject these motions. What could the opposition do in that regard? DN: Talking about the two-thirds majority, some critics say that the appointment of Dr Utjiua Muinjangue as Deputy Minister of Health in the SWAPO-led Government is meant to neutralise NUDO and indirectly retain SWAPO’s two-thirds majority. Is there a degree of truth in this critic? JK: There is no truth in that. Because SWAPO seats are 63 in Parliament and the opposition seats combined are 33. So SWAPO does not need any seat from the opposition right now because with their 63 seats they can pass any motion or bill in Parliament without the opposition’s help. They will only need an extra vote to amend the Constitution and when that time comes it is not a given that my president will blindly vote with SWAPO. It will depend on the issue at hand and what is it that needs a constitutional amendment, which we will first discuss in our party first. DN: Are Namibian opposition parties not participating in social responsibilities? Are you only about the blame game or can you share a success story? How many development projects have you produced and funded thus far, or is that a no go area for NUDO, in particular? JK: Opposition parties try with the little we have to give help where we can. Last year we helped a farmer stranded in Omaruru with food. In Rundu, last year as well but that will be seen as perhaps it was an election year. Thursday at 12h00 at the Katutura Youth Complex we will give food worth N$10 000 as our assistance to those homeless people there. The donation will be given by the party’s president. So we help with the little we have where ever we can. DN: Lastly, in your statement, you bemoan a crippled economy and the country’s incapacity to sustain itself, in general, and in a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you suggest as the way out, for the moment and in the future? JK: I think it is clear in the statement that we can never get out of this one if we don’t start producing food, basic commodities, invest in manufacturing heavily and put up incentives for our young people to study vocational subjects. Small countries like Singapore are today superpowers because of their manufacturing capacity. It is really worrisome that much-needed resources continue to be channelled into non-essential fields such as the overburdened executive arm of Government, coupled with rampant corruption, while the country does not have any resolve as far as food security is concerned.