THE law compelling civil servants who are nominated for the next parliament to take leave appears to be ignored and challenged by those affected despite a reminder from Secretary to Cabinet, Frans Kapofi.
According to the Public Service Act, once a staff member has been nominated as a candidate for presidency or for parliament, they should take “vacation leave”.
A circular obtained from the Public Service Commission shows that Kapofi told the ministries to identify staff members who are on political parties’ lists to take paid leave for the days they have and leave without pay if they do not have leave days.
Acting chairperson of the Public Service Commission Markus Kampungu acknowledged the existence of the circular, saying the implementation of the directive should be done by permanent secretaries.
Kampungu told The Namibian yesterday that the Public Service Commission have not received any applications from civil servants who are on party lists regarding their intentions to go on leave.
Kapofi yesterday confirmed that he had sent out a circular recently reminding civil servants about what needs to be done when they are nominated for parliament or the presidency. He said once a civil servant is elected, their services are terminated.
Even though he authored the memo to ministries, Kapofi said his views about the law are different and that he was against sending people on paid leave, which in practice, will mean that government is paying for a public servant to go out and campaign.
“I sent out the circular to remind them how to behave and also avoid spreading propaganda of specific political parties during the period of elections,” Kapofi said.
As one of the top civil servants affected by the law because he is number 33 on the ruling party’s list, Kapofi said he adheres to the specific law but is concerned about the implementation especially when it comes to his position.
“Who else will do what I am doing as Secretary to Cabinet? Who will do my work while I am away? I’m not an employee of the party but the State,” he said, adding that he has been on leave now and then.
If fully implemented, the rule will affect civil servants with ambitions to be parliamentarians.
They include Windhoek mayor Agnes Kafula who is a public servant through her job as chief control officer at the home affairs ministry headquarters in Windhoek. She is number four on the Swapo list to parliament.
Former Kavango regional governor Sebastian Karupu is a civil servant through his job as a deputy executive director in the Office of the President. Karupu is fifth on the ruling party list.
Karupu’s colleague Christine //Hoebes, a special assistant in the Office of the President, is also on the Swapo list at 24th position.
Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Anna Shiweda is at number 30 of the ruling party’s list while the permanent secretary in the ministry of lands Lidwina Shapwa is number 32 on the Swapo list.
The Otjozondjupa education director Faustina Caley is 64th on Swapo’s parliamentary list while the chief regional officer of the Ohangwena regional council, Daniel Kashikola is number 67 on the list.
Home affairs permanent secretary Patrick Nandago yesterday declined to comment on the situation of Windhoek mayor Kafula who is set to become a member of parliament next year.
Nandago referred the questions to the Secretary to Cabinet.
The Public Service Commission last year rejected an application by Kafula to go on paid leave for her to concentrate on her job as mayor of Windhoek.
Efforts to get comment from some of the affected officials were not successful as their numbers were off while the others did not pick up their phones.
