Following the example of President Hage Geingob, Finance Minister, Calle Schlettwein has publicly declared his assets, indicating that his total net asset value is slightly less than N$8 million. The public declaration, which was verified by an independent chartered accountant, makes Schlettwein the first Cabinet Minister in President Geingob’s administration to declare his assets ahead of the extended deadline of Friday, July 15.
“For me it (declaring assets) is an implicit obligation. If the President is doing it why should we not also do it,” asked Schlettwein in the Ministry of Finance boardroom while accompanied by independent chartered accountant, Arne Stier from Stier Vente Associates.
“I believe that as the custodian of public finances it is important that I share with you what I own and how I have accumulated my personal assets. I personally decided to do so voluntarily because I believe that transparency and accountability is pivotal to good governance and for developing our nation into a just and prosperous society,” Schlettwein noted.
In the signed declaration Schlettwein’s major property assets are listed as a N$3.5 million house in Klein Windhoek and a N$923 000 flat in Swakopmund. However, he is currently improving the Klein Windhoek house, which he initially bought for N$75 000 in 1984. By the end of January this year Schlettwein had invested approximately N$1.2 million into the home’s improvements, which will substantially increase the value of the property once completed.