Heavy spending on state funerals breeds corruption – MP

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Nico Smit has warned that spending too much on state funerals can create opportunities for corruption.

Smit said this when he posed questions to finance and enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi in parliament last week about how much the government spent on state funerals between February 2024 and last month.

“Excessive government spending on state funerals in Namibia can strain public finances, diverting funds from essential services like health care, education and infrastructure,” Smit said.

He added: “Despite our country’s economic challenges, spending excessive funds on state funerals gives lee-way to corrupt activities such as inflated costs for personal gain.”

Smit said state funerals should be dignified yet cost effective.

Since he became president last year, president Nangolo Mbumba has granted state-sponsored funerals to politicians, war veterans and business figures such as businessman Malakia Nakuumba, founding president Sam Nujoma’s sister, Frieda Daniel-Shikongo, former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, late president Hage Geingob and war veteran Epafras Paulus.

Others include Heikky Shililifa, Uukolonkadhi chief Daniel Shooya, Sacky Amunyela, Themus Nkandi, John Amakali, Linda Shihepo, former Endola councillor Noah Tuhadeleni, Jona Amunyela, Ida !Ha-Eiros, church leader Asser Lihongo and, recently, founding president Sam Nujoma.

However, the government has been tight-lipped about the actual costs involved, especially regarding Geingob’s funeral.

Ministry of Information and Communication Technology executive director Audrin Mathe told The Namibian last year that the overall cost of Geingob’s funeral was yet to be concluded as invoices were still being consolidated by the budget holder.

“Currently, we cannot indicate the cost until this process is concluded,” he said.

Mathe said the tendering process for the provision of services such as catering, logistics, media and printing for the memorial and funeral was done in line with the Procurement Act.

Last month, it was reported that the government spent about N$30 million to transport Nujoma’s body to seven of the country’s 14 regions.

Additionally, each of the 14 regions reportedly received N$500 000 to organise Nujoma’s memorial services.

Smit’s concerns come amid growing concern over government spending priorities.

Asked to comment, PDM president McHenry Venaani says: “There is an African culture to let the great departed rest.

We don’t discuss expenditure after the death of great leaders like president [Sam] Nujoma. Discussing state funerals now creates an aroma of disrespect.”

The media reported in the past that liberation struggle hero Andimba Toivo ya Toivo’s funeral cost the government N$3 million, followed by N$2 million being spent on former minister Rosalia Nghidinwa’s funeral at Rundu, and N$1.5 million on Kunene regional governor Angelika Muharukua’s funeral.

Information minister Emma Theofelus was quoted in the media saying the government allocated N$2.8 million to the regions to host Geingob’s regional memorial services.

“The question is relevant and important. As a leader and traditionalist, we must let a few weeks pass before we delve into such talks,” Venaani says.

Landless People’s Movement spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa says criteria and decisions as to how a state funeral is obtained should be more transparent.

“The current level of transparency creates a lack of regulation as to how funds are spent.

There is also a lack of understanding on who qualifies for these types of funerals.

There needs to be a clear distinction on the various levels of state obligation to funerals,” he says.

Simataa says this can help shape the understanding of how much should be spent and would allow an open dialogue on what is an appropriate range or cap.

Political analyst Rui Tyitende says that given Namibia’s numerous socio-economic problems, there should be a permanent freeze on “hero worshipping and splurging lavishly on the dead”.

He says the country has 1.4 million people who are food insecure and knocking on death’s door while political leaders deem it appropriate to be promiscuous with the national purse.

“This is happening while we are told there are no funds for other pressing national needs for the living.

Who will be the last person to receive a state or hero’s funeral? How long is that list and what is the budget?

We need to stop this madness. Let every family bury their loved ones and leave the government out of it,” he says.