CoD charges budget delay a poll ploy

THE Congress of Democrats has accused Government of trying to hide what it calls a “hefty and generous golden handshake” for outgoing President Sam Nujoma.

Addressing a press conference in Windhoek yesterday, CoD leader Ignatius Shixwameni criticised a decision by the Ministry of Finance that this year’s Additional Budget be brought to Parliament only after the November elections. The CoD leader claimed the move was part of a hidden agenda.The Additional Budget is customarily tabled in October.The CoD attack came on the same day that Justice Minister Albert Kawana announced in the National Assembly that he will introduce a bill next week outlining the pension, gratuity and other benefits of “former Presidents” and their families.Finance Deputy Minister Clara Bohitile yesterday dismissed the CoD criticism, saying the decision not to table the budget before elections was “just for financial prudence” (see separate report).But the CoD was adamant that Swapo feared that the retirement packages “could shock the public to the point of not voting for a wasteful Swapo…”The party has demanded that the Additional Budget be approved before the November elections or that newly elected MPs be the ones to pass laws afterwards.The opposition party said it would be a conflict of interest to allow outgoing parliamentarians to approve their retirement packages after the November elections.The term of office of the current parliamentarians ends in February, and sessions are scheduled to continue after the November elections.The CoD also questioned the wisdom of having elections and to then allow lawmakers who were voted out to continue making laws.This practice has continued since the second national elections.Politicians of various parties have privately expressed concern about a similar arrangement whereby the President continues to rule up to four months after a new Head of State has been elected.With Nujoma handing over power for the first time, questions are beginning to be raised that, theoretically, an outgoing President has enough time to destabilise the reign of his successor.The CoD leader claimed the move was part of a hidden agenda.The Additional Budget is customarily tabled in October.The CoD attack came on the same day that Justice Minister Albert Kawana announced in the National Assembly that he will introduce a bill next week outlining the pension, gratuity and other benefits of “former Presidents” and their families.Finance Deputy Minister Clara Bohitile yesterday dismissed the CoD criticism, saying the decision not to table the budget before elections was “just for financial prudence” (see separate report).But the CoD was adamant that Swapo feared that the retirement packages “could shock the public to the point of not voting for a wasteful Swapo…”The party has demanded that the Additional Budget be approved before the November elections or that newly elected MPs be the ones to pass laws afterwards.The opposition party said it would be a conflict of interest to allow outgoing parliamentarians to approve their retirement packages after the November elections.The term of office of the current parliamentarians ends in February, and sessions are scheduled to continue after the November elections.The CoD also questioned the wisdom of having elections and to then allow lawmakers who were voted out to continue making laws.This practice has continued since the second national elections.Politicians of various parties have privately expressed concern about a similar arrangement whereby the President continues to rule up to four months after a new Head of State has been elected.With Nujoma handing over power for the first time, questions are beginning to be raised that, theoretically, an outgoing President has enough time to destabilise the reign of his successor.