Early Parliament session unlikely

THE National Assembly is not likely to resume its session earlier to discuss possible salary increases for civil servants, as proposed by the DTA of Namibia.

Swapo insiders said the DTA proposal was ‘pure politicking’ and would not be entertained.
Although DTA Secretary General McHenry Venaani said last week that they would lobby the Speaker and the Prime Minister to call back Parliamentarians from their holiday to address the plight of the civil servants, the party had not done so by Tuesday this week.
However, Prime Minister Nahas Angula has, in the meantime, dismissed the appeal, saying Parliament was not the platform to discuss the issue.
What the DTA proposal did, however was to hasten the resumption of talks between the Government and the two bargaining agents of civil servants – the Namibia Public Workers’ Union and the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu).
The two unions called a media briefing yesterday to announce that they have started with the negotiations but refused to provide details about their demands.
Napwu General Secretary Peter Nevonga said the union’s members know what their demands are and there is no need at this stage to share them with the media.
The Swapo insiders, who opposed the DTA move, said instead of calling for an earlier session, the opposition party should have announced that their Members of Parliament will not take the 24 per cent increase announced by President Hifikepunye Pohamba to demonstrate their solidarity with the public servants.
In December, President Pohamba approved a 24 per cent salary increase for political office bearers but there was no word on what the future holds for ordinary civil servants.
The increases for political office bearers will be for the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairperson of the National Council and all members of the National Assembly and National Council.
Venaani said increases for political office bearers and service conditions for public servants were two different issues.
‘What we want is a re-look at the whole public service working conditions. It is in an appalling state and we can’t keep quiet because we got an increase,’ Venaani said.
He said there was a need to reform the bloated civil service and to create exit avenues for unneeded staff through black economic empowerment schemes.
In April last year, during the budget debate, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila told Parliament that public servants would get salary increases from April 1 this year. – christof@namibian.com.na