Namibia hints on establishment of State lottery to tackle poverty

Namibian President Hage Geingob in his State of the Nation Address delivered recently, hinted on the possibility of government looking into the establishment and institutionalising a State Lottery in the country, with the objective to supplement State revenue streams, for poverty eradication.

He said this in his address of the Harambee Prosperity Plan which rests on a four-pillar framework, which he said will not replace any national development roadmap but will complement long-term national goals for prosperity such as vision 2030.

According to Geingob the social pillars of progression comprise the elimination of poverty and hunger; the fast-tracking of urban land servicing and housing; the improving of sanitary conditions; the reduction in infant and maternal mortality; and, finally, the acceleration of vocational technical skills.

Furthermore, a number of plans including emergency relief, improving agricultural productivity and introducing food banks were mentioned and will be implemented.

Meanwhile, Financial Analyst, Suta Kavari in his view of the plan said the lottery is essentially another form of gambling and it is a regressive tax on the poor.

"The poor are the most avid buyers of lottery tickets, and a lottery ticket costs disproportionately more to a poor person than it does to a rich person." said Kavari.