Political parties’ funding limitation is weakening their administration, as they are not allowed to conduct business to keep afloat.
Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani said this in the National Assembly on Friday.
Political parties have recieved N$185.2 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
Each party is allocated funds based on the number of seats they have in the parliament.
Venaani said parties must be allowed to use the funds they receive to enter into businesses to survive.
“It is wrong to assume . . . that the salary you get . . . is enough to perform those functions,” he said.
Venaani said the Electoral Act says one may not benefit if he/she is a holder of administration or are a member of parliament.
Venaani said he has been running the party as a member of parliament with no benefits for the past 11 years.
He said Swapo tops up its secretary general’s salary to equal that of a deputy minister.
Venaani questioned where Swapo’s money would come from if it had no companies.
Deputy speaker Phillipus Katamelo said the matter is a legislative issue, urging parties to discuss the way forward.
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