No fiscal restraint in Nujoma’s new shock appointment

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma has appointed Mvula ya Nangolo, retired former Features Editor of the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa), as Special Advisor to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting with effect from April 1.

This move to create a new, senior post comes as a shock at a time when the Minister of Finance, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, promised in her 2004-2005, National Budget that Government would not fill vacancies in the public service unless they were essential. She described the measure as an exercise in budgetary restraint.President Sam Nujoma has, however, in the past used his discretion to appoint ‘Special Advisors’ in terms of powers given to him under Article 32(i)(ee) of the Constitution which stipulates “any other person or persons who are required by any other provision of this Constitution or any other law to be appointed by the President”.A press release by Permanent Secretary Mocks Shivute yesterday said that Nangolo would “among others, advise the Minister on all aspects related to the dissemination of news and information in the public interest, and will ensure that all policies and guidelines of the Ministry are implemented”.It is not known whether budgetary provision has been made for the new appointment.Nangolo is wellknown for the poems he wrote and published on Namibia’s Independence struggle and has worked for many years as an editor of Swapo publications.She described the measure as an exercise in budgetary restraint.President Sam Nujoma has, however, in the past used his discretion to appoint ‘Special Advisors’ in terms of powers given to him under Article 32(i)(ee) of the Constitution which stipulates “any other person or persons who are required by any other provision of this Constitution or any other law to be appointed by the President”.A press release by Permanent Secretary Mocks Shivute yesterday said that Nangolo would “among others, advise the Minister on all aspects related to the dissemination of news and information in the public interest, and will ensure that all policies and guidelines of the Ministry are implemented”.It is not known whether budgetary provision has been made for the new appointment.Nangolo is wellknown for the poems he wrote and published on Namibia’s Independence struggle and has worked for many years as an editor of Swapo publications.