Time For Promised Pension Payouts

NAMIBIA took a positive step forward when Parliament passed an increase in pensions in the current financial year.

The still-paltry amount was set at N$300 until it was increased to N$370 in March this year. Already some months have passed since the increase was authorised, and The Namibian certainly welcomed this move when it happened.However it is important that the payouts start soon, as pensioners in Namibia are among those vulnerable groups who find it hard to make ends meet, and will continue to do so, even on the new amount of N$370.This week, a Government spokesperson said, in response to enquiries, that even they were not sure when the payouts would commence.Some said delays had to do with the fact that the increase, approved in terms of the Additional Appropriation Budget, had had to pass through the National Council and had still to be approved by the President.Even though the pension payouts will be backdated to the end of April 2006, it is important that Government correctly inform the pensioners as to when they can expect these payments and to play open cards with them on the delays.The country is faced with a number of burning priorities, not least of which is the national polio immunisation campaign which has been necessitated by the recent outbreak of the disease.Then there is also the shebeen issue which has become in many ways a political ‘hot potato’ that is proving difficult for Government to handle because of the controversy surrounding the regulations governing the licensing of these informal liquor outlets.In this regard too, Government needs to be firm and yet fair.Shebeen owners have had ample time to prepare themselves to conform with rules and regulations around the operation of these places, since the relevant legislation was passed several years ago, and there needs to be control of this sector, as there is with others in the economy.It would be both an impossible, and also undesirable task to outlaw shebeens, but at the same time they should conform with the standards that are set for them in terms of licencing and the law.Kamwi Shows His Concern IN a time when most of Namibia is deeply concerned about the recent polio outbreak after a decade in which the disease had officially been eradicated in this country, it is encouraging to hear that Health Minister Richard Kamwi has taken time to visit some of the patients in hospital.It is important when the various Ministers take an active interest in things which concern their portfolios, rather than remain passively aloof which a number of them tend to do.In the past we have urged Ministers, particularly those tasked with controversial portfolios, such as Home Affairs, to investigate in person what is happening on the ground in their Ministries.It would be a positive step towards a more caring culture for the country if others were to emulate Minister Kamwi’s example.In the meantime, it is to be hoped that the public at large are heeding the advice of the Health Ministry to take health and hygiene precautions to prevent further outbreak of the disease.In addition, of course, it is welcome that the vaccines have now arrived in Namibia and that the campaign to immunise the nation will start soon.We would, however, urge Government to start the campaign in areas worst affected by the outbreak.Already some months have passed since the increase was authorised, and The Namibian certainly welcomed this move when it happened.However it is important that the payouts start soon, as pensioners in Namibia are among those vulnerable groups who find it hard to make ends meet, and will continue to do so, even on the new amount of N$370.This week, a Government spokesperson said, in response to enquiries, that even they were not sure when the payouts would commence.Some said delays had to do with the fact that the increase, approved in terms of the Additional Appropriation Budget, had had to pass through the National Council and had still to be approved by the President.Even though the pension payouts will be backdated to the end of April 2006, it is important that Government correctly inform the pensioners as to when they can expect these payments and to play open cards with them on the delays.The country is faced with a number of burning priorities, not least of which is the national polio immunisation campaign which has been necessitated by the recent outbreak of the disease.Then there is also the shebeen issue which has become in many ways a political ‘hot potato’ that is proving difficult for Government to handle because of the controversy surrounding the regulations governing the licensing of these informal liquor outlets.In this regard too, Government needs to be firm and yet fair.Shebeen owners have had ample time to prepare themselves to conform with rules and regulations around the operation of these places, since the relevant legislation was passed several years ago, and there needs to be control of this sector, as there is with others in the economy.It would be both an impossible, and also undesirable task to outlaw shebeens, but at the same time they should conform with the standards that are set for them in terms of licencing and the law.Kamwi Shows His Concern IN a time when most of Namibia is deeply concerned about the recent polio outbreak after a decade in which the disease had officially been eradicated in this country, it is encouraging to hear that Health Minister Richard Kamwi has taken time to visit some of the patients in hospital.It is important when the various Ministers take an active interest in things which concern their portfolios, rather than remain passively aloof which a number of them tend to do.In the past we have urged Ministers, particularly those tasked with controversial portfolios, such as Home Affairs, to investigate in person what is happening on the ground in their Ministries.It would be a positive step towards a more caring culture for the country if others were to emulate Minister Kamwi’s example.In the meantime, it is to be hoped that the public at large are heeding the advice of the Health Ministry to take health and hygiene precautions to prevent further outbreak of the disease.In addition, of course, it is welcome that the vaccines have now arrived in Namibia and that the campaign to immunise the nation will start soon.We would, however, urge Government to start the campaign in areas worst affected by the outbreak.