Namibian diplomats working under poor conditions: MPs

THE perceived poor conditions of service of Namibian diplomats and issues of economic diplomacy were the subject of heated debate during the budget vote of N$222 million for Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

MPs alleged that foreign affairs officials abroad were worse off than their counterparts who were based in the country. Swapo MP Peya Mushelenga contended that the posting of Namibians to diplomatic missions abroad led to the disintegration of families, because spouses who also worked in Government were left with no means of income if they chose to accompany their partners.He added that diplomats lost their benefits such as their car allowance when they were no longer based in Namibia and were subsequently financially worse off than their colleagues in Namibia.They could not even afford to travel home for a funeral of a family member, Mushelenga claimed.”You are not there on your own.You are there representing the State.”Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku told parliamentarians that his ministry was aware of complaints about working conditions abroad, but said that everything was being done to address these concerns.Discussions on the issue had been ongoing since last year, he said, and culminated in a conference earlier this year where the welfare of staff members and the heads of missions took priority.”We discussed all these issues and we’ve made a submission to the Public Service Commission in the Prime Minister’s office,” he said.The DTA’s McHenry Venaani said Namibia lagged behind when it came to economic diplomacy and that Namibian diplomats were not doing enough to help Namibian companies reap the benefits of trade relations with foreign countries.Prime Minister Nahas Angula was of the opinion that Namibia’s concept of economic diplomacy be revised to take into account the mutual interests among states, saying that this would achieve more than Namibia just trying to negotiate to serve its own interests.”You build your economic diplomacy on the common interest and partnerships.I think as a small country, that will take us somewhere.We should try to recognise commonalities as we pursue our interests as a country,” said Angula.Swapo MP Elia Kaiyamo said there was not enough co-operation between MPs who undertake foreign missions and Namibia’s foreign office.He said they had to engage so that foreign officials could follow up on issues MPs identified as benefiting Namibia.Minister without Portfolio Ngarikutuke Tjiriange felt that Namibian diplomatic missions were not doing enough to market the country.”Our propaganda to sell Namibia abroad leaves a lot to be desired.We don’t market it properly,” said Tjiriange.Tjiriange also said that Namibia had to be stricter in allowing foreigners to enter Namibia without a visa.Tjiriange singled out European countries in particular, which he said demanded visas from Namibians, but no visas were required for their citizens to visit Namibia.* Additional reporting by Denver IsaacsSwapo MP Peya Mushelenga contended that the posting of Namibians to diplomatic missions abroad led to the disintegration of families, because spouses who also worked in Government were left with no means of income if they chose to accompany their partners.He added that diplomats lost their benefits such as their car allowance when they were no longer based in Namibia and were subsequently financially worse off than their colleagues in Namibia.They could not even afford to travel home for a funeral of a family member, Mushelenga claimed.”You are not there on your own.You are there representing the State.”Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku told parliamentarians that his ministry was aware of complaints about working conditions abroad, but said that everything was being done to address these concerns.Discussions on the issue had been ongoing since last year, he said, and culminated in a conference earlier this year where the welfare of staff members and the heads of missions took priority.”We discussed all these issues and we’ve made a submission to the Public Service Commission in the Prime Minister’s office,” he said.The DTA’s McHenry Venaani said Namibia lagged behind when it came to economic diplomacy and that Namibian diplomats were not doing enough to help Namibian companies reap the benefits of trade relations with foreign countries.Prime Minister Nahas Angula was of the opinion that Namibia’s concept of economic diplomacy be revised to take into account the mutual interests among states, saying that this would achieve more than Namibia just trying to negotiate to serve its own interests.”You build your economic diplomacy on the common interest and partnerships.I think as a small country, that will take us somewhere.We should try to recognise commonalities as we pursue our interests as a country,” said Angula.Swapo MP Elia Kaiyamo said there was not enough co-operation between MPs who undertake foreign missions and Namibia’s foreign office.He said they had to engage so that foreign officials could follow up on issues MPs identified as benefiting Namibia.Minister without Portfolio Ngarikutuke Tjiriange felt that Namibian diplomatic missions were not doing enough to market the country.”Our propaganda to sell Namibia abroad leaves a lot to be desired.We don’t market it properly,” said Tjiriange.Tjiriange also said that Namibia had to be stricter in allowing foreigners to enter Namibia without a visa.Tjiriange singled out European countries in particular, which he said demanded visas from Namibians, but no visas were required for their citizens to visit Namibia.* Additional reporting by Denver Isaacs