Members of Parliament have, for the second consecutive year, appealed for better perks such as housing and vehicles allowances as well as salaries because they are national leaders.
This plea, made during discussions on the budget in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday, comes about a year after President Hifikepunye Pohamba granted the MPs a 15% salary increase.
The debate was on the NA budget motivation during which all the MPs present on the day, except for two, supported the construction of the new lawmaking chamber worth N$640 million.
In his contribution to the debate, youth minister Jerry Ekandjo proposed the building of flats for MPs, especially those from outside the capital whom he said “may be squatting” because “they are doing an important job of “making laws for the country”.
“Some of them [MPs] are maybe squatting. Do not be surprised tomorrow if you see some of our colleagues looking grey because they did not take a bath,” he said, adding that MPs should live comfortably.
Ekandjo also said people should not expect MPs to buy houses in Windhoek because they are not from the city.
“We have to have flats for MPs so that they can maybe pay a limited amount, maybe for water,” Ekandjo added.
As it stands, there is no MP who earns less than N$45 000 per month. perks for MPs include transport allowances ranging from N$78 000 to N$106 000 for officials without State vehicles while ministers and deputies have Mercedes Benz vehicles.
The MPs also enjoy furniture allowances that ranges from N$31 000 to N$100 000 while the State also provides accommodation, entertainment, water and electricity allowances.
The Minister of Presidential Affairs Albert Kawana, who is also the Attorney General, backed Ekandjo’s proposal saying there is need to look after MPs, especially backbenchers, by constructing residential apartments or a “parliament village”.
“This is commendable because our honourable members are really suffering. That is why sometimes we are kept here [in Parliament] until midnight, because they are scared to go to the kambashus [shacks] where they are squatting because its very uncomfortable,” he said, adding that politicians deserve better.
“These are our national leaders. They deserve decent places. I am speaking from experience. I know where some of our colleagues stay. It’s not really conducive for a member of parliament,” he said.
DTA parliamentarian and former party vice president Philemon Moongo said MPs also want vehicles, improved subsistence and travel allowances.
“I want to live with my dignity. We have the money,” he further said.
Official documents from the Public Office Bearers Remuneration and Benefits Commission show that, after the 15% increase last year, the Prime Minister now earns N$1,2 million in non-cash and cash, an amount which is equal to N$100 000 per month.
A minister earns N$940 000 which translates to N$78 000 per month. An ordinary MP in the National Assembly earns N$620 000 which translates to around N$51 000 per month.
Deputy Minister of Justice Tommy Nambahu complained that the low salaries chase away potential politicians. “We will not attract people of quality,” he warned.
Nambahu further said the leaders’ perks should be extended to local authorities to build decent mayoral houses and cater for visitors.
“We have to inquire and query the system we inherited from the past to come up with something adequate and up to the dignity of the institution we call Parliament,” he added.
The Speaker of the National Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab described the debate on demands for better perks as a waste of time since there is a standing committee that deals with MPs’ benefits.
Guririab said MPs who want to make comments about perks should go through that body to express their views.
This week, Gurirab defended plans for building a new chamber saying the current parliament building does not meet the growing requirements in terms of technology advances, size and functionality.
“It proves to be not only insufficient in terms of office space for both members and staff, despite the fact that every single office is being utilised to its optimum capacity, but also its structural design is no longer being supported by today’s sophisticated technology”.
Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Doreen Sioka also complained about the current parliament.
Sioka said the offices do not have toilets as opposed to where she is now working. “I have to share toilets with staff [members]. You have to queue,” she said about her experience when she was the deputy Speaker.
After being appointed as minister of gender, she discovered that the grass was greener as a minister. “I found out that my office was well equipped, even with showers. New ones with the latest designs,” she added.
The only two MPs who opposed the construction of the new parliament is Nudo MP Arnold Tjihuiko and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) member Anton von Wietersheim.
Tjihuiko said the construction is not a priority and the Government should instead focus on building schools for the pupils who are studying under tress and repairing dilapidated hospitals.
What Namibian MPs earn (rounded off)
Prime Minister N$1,2 million
Deputy PM N$1 million
Speaker National Assembly N$1 million
Chairperson National Council N$1 million
Minister N$940 000
Deputy Minister N$865 000
MP: National Assembly N$620 000
MP: National Council N$620 000
This plea, made during discussions on the budget in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday, comes about a year after President Hifikepunye Pohamba granted the MPs a 15% salary increase.
The debate was on the NA budget motivation during which all the MPs present on the day, except for two, supported the construction of the new lawmaking chamber worth N$640 million.
In his contribution to the debate, youth minister Jerry Ekandjo proposed the building of flats for MPs, especially those from outside the capital whom he said “may be squatting” because “they are doing an important job of “making laws for the country”.
“Some of them [MPs] are maybe squatting. Do not be surprised tomorrow if you see some of our colleagues looking grey because they did not take a bath,” he said, adding that MPs should live comfortably.
Ekandjo also said people should not expect MPs to buy houses in Windhoek because they are not from the city.
“We have to have flats for MPs so that they can maybe pay a limited amount, maybe for water,” Ekandjo added.
As it stands, there is no MP who earns less than N$45 000 per month. perks for MPs include transport allowances ranging from N$78 000 to N$106 000 for officials without State vehicles while ministers and deputies have Mercedes Benz vehicles.
The MPs also enjoy furniture allowances that ranges from N$31 000 to N$100 000 while the State also provides accommodation, entertainment, water and electricity allowances.
The Minister of Presidential Affairs Albert Kawana, who is also the Attorney General, backed Ekandjo’s proposal saying there is need to look after MPs, especially backbenchers, by constructing residential apartments or a “parliament village”.
“This is commendable because our honourable members are really suffering. That is why sometimes we are kept here [in Parliament] until midnight, because they are scared to go to the kambashus [shacks] where they are squatting because its very uncomfortable,” he said, adding that politicians deserve better.
“These are our national leaders. They deserve decent places. I am speaking from experience. I know where some of our colleagues stay. It’s not really conducive for a member of parliament,” he said.
DTA parliamentarian and former party vice president Philemon Moongo said MPs also want vehicles, improved subsistence and travel allowances.
“I want to live with my dignity. We have the money,” he further said.
Official documents from the Public Office Bearers Remuneration and Benefits Commission show that, after the 15% increase last year, the Prime Minister now earns N$1,2 million in non-cash and cash, an amount which is equal to N$100 000 per month.
A minister earns N$940 000 which translates to N$78 000 per month. An ordinary MP in the National Assembly earns N$620 000 which translates to around N$51 000 per month.
Deputy Minister of Justice Tommy Nambahu complained that the low salaries chase away potential politicians. “We will not attract people of quality,” he warned.
Nambahu further said the leaders’ perks should be extended to local authorities to build decent mayoral houses and cater for visitors.
“We have to inquire and query the system we inherited from the past to come up with something adequate and up to the dignity of the institution we call Parliament,” he added.
The Speaker of the National Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab described the debate on demands for better perks as a waste of time since there is a standing committee that deals with MPs’ benefits.
Guririab said MPs who want to make comments about perks should go through that body to express their views.
This week, Gurirab defended plans for building a new chamber saying the current parliament building does not meet the growing requirements in terms of technology advances, size and functionality.
“It proves to be not only insufficient in terms of office space for both members and staff, despite the fact that every single office is being utilised to its optimum capacity, but also its structural design is no longer being supported by today’s sophisticated technology”.
Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Doreen Sioka also complained about the current parliament.
Sioka said the offices do not have toilets as opposed to where she is now working. “I have to share toilets with staff [members]. You have to queue,” she said about her experience when she was the deputy Speaker.
After being appointed as minister of gender, she discovered that the grass was greener as a minister. “I found out that my office was well equipped, even with showers. New ones with the latest designs,” she added.
The only two MPs who opposed the construction of the new parliament is Nudo MP Arnold Tjihuiko and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) member Anton von Wietersheim.
Tjihuiko said the construction is not a priority and the Government should instead focus on building schools for the pupils who are studying under tress and repairing dilapidated hospitals.
What Namibian MPs earn (rounded off)
Prime Minister N$1,2 million
Deputy PM N$1 million
Speaker National Assembly N$1 million
Chairperson National Council N$1 million
Minister N$940 000
Deputy Minister N$865 000
MP: National Assembly N$620 000
MP: National Council N$620 000
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