Geingob hits pay dirt

MILLIONAIRE President Hage Geingob is set to earn N$350 000 (15%) more than his predecessor Hifikepunye Pohamba, a year after taking over the top seat in government.

This is part of several key changes to the perks of the head of state, which includes revised Presidential medical aid, an increased salary for the First Lady and making it possible for the President to add more than one wife or husband to be financed by the state.

This is revealed in the Presidential Remuneration and Other Benefits Bill, which was tabled by presidential affairs minister Frans Kapofi in the National Assembly yesterday.

According to the Bill, a sitting President will earn an untaxed 15% more than the vice president, who earns 15% more than the Prime Minister.

Documents from the Public Office-Bearers’ Remuneration and Benefits Commission (POBC) show that the Prime Minister should earn over N$1,2 million in non-cash and cash per year, which amounts to N$100 000 per month.

Based on this figure, President Geingob will now earn over N$1,55 million, which is N$350 000 (30%) more than the Prime Minister. Pohamba earned N$175 000 (15%) more than his premier.

The President already has official perks such as entertainment and refreshments allowances, which amount to millions of dollars.

Kapofi told The Namibian yesterday that vice president Nickey Iyambo earns a basic salary of N$1 079 795.

According to our calculations, the vice president should earn N$175 000 more than the Prime Minister, like what was earned by Pohamba.

The remuneration of the President is defined as including and “not limited to a basic salary and allowances paid to the President and the vice president arising from their holding (of) office”.

First Lady Monica Geingos will also earn more than Penehupifo Pohamba, who earned N$600 000 annually, the same as a deputy permanent secretary.

Geingos will now earn the same salary as a permanent secretary. A permanent secretary earns over N$760 000 per year.

The President, his deputy, their spouses and children who are legally dependent on the head of state and those of the vice president will be fully covered by the government.

“A dependent child means an unmarried biological child, legally-adopted child or stepchild of the President or vice president who has not attained the age of 18 years,” the Bill stipulates, adding that if the child has attained the age of 18 years, he or she can still be considered as a dependant due to various reasons.

This includes being a full-time university student, having a physical or mental disability and being unable to adequately provide for his or her own maintenance, such that the person is dependent on the President.

The issue of the medical aid has been a debate among top officials in Government because under the new law, the President has been moved from the Public Service medical aid fund to a more comprehensive and better medical aid package.

Another aspect of the new law is the inclusion of ‘customary law’ in the description of the term ‘Presidential spouse’.

According to the new law, a Presidential spouse means the person, who is the wife or husband of the president and includes a wife or husband married under customary law.

Asked for an explanation, attorney general Sacky Shanghala told The Namibian that the inclusion of a customary union allows a sitting President to add a wife or husband if the head of state decides to add another spouse.

This means that the state could fork out more money to subsidise the wives or husbands of the current or future Presidents if the head of state decides to have an additional partner.

Kapofi, however, denied that scenario, saying only one spouse is recognised.

The calculations of salaries were arrived at by adding figures put together by using old reports published by the POBC.

The POBC has been secretive and flatly refused to provide the updated figures of how much politicians earn.

The last time a report was issued was in December 2012, but attempts by this newspaper since 2014 to get the latest data have been ignored by POBC officials, despite Geingob referring The Namibian to the entity entrusted to provide the information.

The spokesperson of the Office of the Prime Minister Saima Shaanika declined to comment on the N$1,2 million salary of the premier. She referred the questions to the POBC.

Geingob pledged last year at a Swapo election rally that he will give 20% of his salary to set up a scholarship fund for impoverished children in an effort to alleviate poverty. The Presidency has not updated the public on the progress of that pledge.

Shanghala admitted that his office started the legal process in order to determine the salary of his boss.

“The attorney general commences the process for the law, then Cabinet debates, then the responsible minister tables (in parliament),” Shanghala said.

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