Windhoek
The official opposition, DTA of Namibia, has threatened to drag the government to court if it fails to make public the salary of Vice President Nickey Iyambo and the presidential advisors.
President Hage Geingob earlier this year appointed Iyambo, a former Cabinet minister, as vice president, while six advisors were appointed in the presidency.
Speaking at the Observer Forum last week, DTA president McHenry Venaani said his party would take the legal route if calls for government to reveal the officials’ salaries fall on deaf ears. He was speaking on a wide range of topics related to governance and government’s fight to eradicate poverty.
Venaani last week asked Presidential Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi in the National Assembly to make public the vice president’s salary, as well as that of the president’s advisors.
“If the minister fails to reveal the salary of the vice president and the A-team by presenting figures, we will take government to court so that they can be held accountable,” he said. Venaani did not state what law compels government to reveal the salaries of the said officials. There have been concerns raised following the appointment of the advisors, with many fearing that it will further escalate the N$22.9 billion public wage bill. The president’s annual salary is about N$1.4 million, while that of the prime minister is N$1.2 million per year.
Government introduced the position of vice president following an avalanche of Constitutional changes last year.
Former CEO at Millennium Challenge Account Namibia, Penny Akwenye has been appointed as policy advisor on implementation and monitoring, former Namdeb CEO Inge Zamwaami-Kamwi as Constitutional advisor and private sector interface, while former Team Namibia CEO Daisry Mathias has been appointed as the president’s advisor on youth engagements.
Albertus Aochamub, Ettiene Maritz and Dr John Steytler were appointed as press secretary, executive director in the Office of the President and economic advisor, respectively.
Venaani also expressed concern about the ever-increasing public wage bill.
“Our civil service is just too large, and President Geingob is proving to be the worst manager of the public purse, despite being credited as a great administrator. Clearly he is not holding the public purse in check, he thinks efficiency can be derived from a bloated public service,” charged Venaani.
The leader of the opposition in parliament also claimed President Hage Geingob was abusing his discretionary powers when it comes to appointments.
“Yes he has discretionary powers, but he must ensure that he does not override the principle of separation of powers, and what he is currently doing through all the appointments is a clear abuse of those powers,” Venaani said.
Venaani also called on government to devise a new funding formula for political parties. He feels the current system, based on proportional representation, disadvantages smaller parties.
Taxpayers will during the current financial year fork out N$116.8 million to fund the operations of the 10 political parties represented in parliament, of which N$97 million will go to the ruling party Swapo with 101 seats in parliament, while the DTA will get N$5.7 million for their six seats in the legislature.
“How do you compete with political machinery that is way bigger than you?” he asked.