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President Hage Geingob

WINDHOEK. — Namibian President Hage Geingob has pledged 20 percent of his salary to a scholarship fund for children from poor families.

Geingob made the pledge on Saturday when he addressed the ruling Swapo Party rally in Windhoek where he officially launched the party’s campaign for next month’s regional and local authorities elections.

“I am ready to set aside 20 percent of my salary in order to set up a scholarship fund for impoverished children,” he told the hundreds of supporters who gathered at the Katutura Multi-purpose Centre.

Geingob earns about 2 million Namibian dollars (about $76 000) per year and this means he will give away about $30 580.

The Namibian government has made poverty eradication a special focus, with the creation of a whole ministry – Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.

The ministry is headed by retired Bishop Zephaniah Kameeta, who is a well-known advocate of the basic income grant for the poor.

About 28,7 percent of Namibia’s 2,3 million live under the Poverty Datum Line. According to Geingob, fighting poverty is by no means an easy feat since it is an enemy with no fighter jets, tanks, artillery, soldiers or bases.

“We have declared all-out war on poverty,” he said, “In a war situation, one must be prepared to make sacrifices and incur losses for the greater good of all.”

Geingob said since the government was fighting poverty, it was not too much to ask those that are fortunate enough to have employment to think about their brothers and sisters who have nothing.

“Yes, I understand the issue of creeping inflation and how it increases the cost of living. However, there are those who are struggling to survive. Let all of us who are employed think about how we can reduce spending and sacrifice our salaries rather than fighting for increments when you are employed and at least having income,” he added. – Xinhua.