Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani says the mid-year budget fails to adequately address the cost of living, housing, sanitation and challenges facing farmers.

Contributing to the National Assembly budget debate, Venaani questioned whether the revised spending plans would improve the lives of ordinary Namibians.

Venaani criticised the allocation of N$1.5 billion to agriculture compared with N$1.9 billion for international relations and diplomacy.

"That's an injustice to an industry that is very key. The government should have walked the talk today to say that now that FMG has challenged our meat market, our farmers cannot be able to sell. Therefore, now we are going to spend money on agriculture. But we are not spending money on agriculture. We are finding it free to spend more money on international relations and diplomacy than in our own industry that is to be promoted."

He also called for an extension of the tax amnesty deadline, saying foot-and-mouth disease restrictions had left farmers struggling to sell livestock and meet their financial obligations.

On housing, Venaani urged municipalities to allocate land to residents living in informal settlements, arguing that access to land could help promote economic growth.

"Are we really truthful to this country that we are leaving people behind and telling them that you can wait? We are dealing with all the other matters, but you can wait. How long do we think the Sandy towns must wait? And how long can they wait? It's time to open, to tell municipalities to start allocating land to those people that are living in those Sandy towns for them to be able to have equity in their hands for us to propel growth in this country."

Venaani further called for measures to accelerate economic growth and address the hardships facing ordinary Namibians.