Windhoek
Ten Walvis Bay municipal councillors and technocrats at that local authority face an immediate investigation, which was sanctioned by the head of State President Hage Geingob last week.
Geingob, who says not even the president has the right to increase his own salary, also stressed before his departure for the United States of America on Saturday that all politicians should not be treated as thieves who steal from the people, as all remuneration processes are usually implemented within the ambit of the law.
He was responding to questions related to the situation at Walvis Bay Municipality, where after taking office last November councillors last month approved jaw-dropping increases to their monthly allowances, amounting to millions of dollars annually, as well as adding a new transport allowance for political office-bearers.
In terms of the latest salary increases the mayor of Walvis Bay will have a monthly allowance of N$31 327 and the deputy mayor N$25 834. The chairperson of the management committee got a 57 percent increase to get a monthly allowance of N$28 580, while other members of the management committee got an 82 percent increase to bring their monthly allowance to N$23 088. Ordinary councillors will get N$18 700 after a 47 percent hike.
The recommendation is said to have been approved at the last council meeting and comes in light of about 150 workers threatening recently to take industrial action over unfair labour practices, outstanding back-pay, lack of housing, delayed salary negotiations and alleged corruption at the municipality.
Walvis Bay Mayor Immanuel Wilfred last week denied any knowledge of any increases to councillors’ remuneration packages, despite the fact his signature is on the memorandum to CEO Muronga Haingura, dated August 30, 2016, proposing the hefty increases.
Haingura last week declined to comment on the matter. In the August 30 memorandum it was noted that the last increase to councillors’ allowances was in 2013 and that the remuneration package did not compensate elected officials appropriately, as they take unpaid leave from their places of work and make use of own or public transport to attend municipal activities. It was requested that the increases be approved retrospectively from July 1.
In response to questions from New Era, Geingob said: “I heard it from you. I will tell the minister concerned… Let’s follow it up and let’s interrogate what is happening there.”
He, however, cautioned that politicians should not be made to look like criminals, as they too have children and families and their dignity to protect.
“Yes, they must follow the law. The minister of urban and rural development must look into that, but we also [tend to] jump to make politicians look so bad. Politicians offer themselves to serve, which some will never do,” he said.
“We have to look at all situations, but people also have rights and powers, in the same way we talk about not regulating the press because that is their prerogative and that is their right. Others will also fight for their rights.”
“They will say, as elected leaders in our own constituencies, we have the right. So, all of us have to look at the common good. Yes, we’re going to look into it… [and] democratically consult them to tell them that this is not fair,” he said.
He maintained that people elected to serve in public office do not put themselves on the line to be torn down, simply because they occupy those offices. “Those [Constitutional] rights protect all of us, including politicians. One is made to feel guilty because you’re paid a salary. That’s not stealing. It is agreed. Now that you are paid and because it is taxpayers’ money, you are stealing?” he asked.
“And you have children, by the way, who admire you, but you are made to look like you are a thief. Some of us are very dignified, to tell you the truth,” President Geingob maintained.