Politicians hit pay jackpot

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba has dropped a bombshell by giving political office bearers a 24 per cent salary increase.

They will get 12 per cent as soon as the decision has been gazetted and another 12 per cent when the National Budget is approved for the next financial year.
The increases will be for the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairperson of the National Council and all members of the National Assembly as well as the National Council.
The increases come in the wake of protracted negotiations between Government’s negotiating team and union leaders over increases for civil servants.
Yesterday, General Secretary of the Namibia Public Workers’ Union Peter Nevonga was non-committal about when the negotiations will be concluded.
‘We are still negotiating and there is nothing for the media,’ is all Nevonga had to say when approached by The Namibian.
He declined to comment on the salary increases for politicians.
In April, when the Budget debate was still on, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila told Parliament that the country’s 84 000 public servants would get salary increases from April 1 next year.
Sources said increases for the civil servants would be spread over a three-year period.
The President’s decision to increase the salaries of politicians by 24 per cent was taken after he considered a report presented by the Public Office-Bearers (Remuneration and Benefits) Commission.
In February, the Commission informed Pohamba that politicians’ salaries lagged behind by as much as 86 per cent in terms of the consumer price index.
The Commission had proposed a basic salary increase of 29 per cent for this financial year.
However, Pohamba delayed acting on the report.
Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr Albert Kawana said the President first considered the prevailing economic condition caused by drought, the country’s expected economic performance, the financial means of the State, inflation and the principle that public office bearers are there to serve the people, before he decided on the 24 per cent increase.
‘The 24 per cent basic salary increase will be effected during two financial years, namely 12 per cent during 2008-09 financial year, which is already budgeted for, and 12 per cent during 2009-10 financial year,’ Kawana said.
Pohamba is not affected by the increases since deciding on his own salary would be contrary to the policy of transparency.
The salary increases for politicians have been received with mixed feelings.
A trade unionist said when the increases are compared to what Government is offering civil servants, it does not make sense.
‘As we all know politicians are not paid peanuts but the workers starve. We will reserve our comment until we have seen their offer to the workers,’ said the unionist.
Sources said Government ‘has not offered anything serious’ to the negotiating team representing the civil servants.