Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has called for cost cutting by repurposing state offices for former presidents instead of building or renting new ones.
He proposed on Tuesday that the office space previously used by former president Sam Nujoma be allocated to accommodate living former heads of state, such as Hifikepunye Pohamba and Nangolo Mbumba.
Former presidents are currently given government mansions worth over N$35 million each.
However, the former official opposition leader said the ex-presidents should rather be given office space.
“Can the government repurpose the offices of the late former president to accommodate the remaining former presidents, thereby minimising costs associated with office space,” Venaani said in parliament. He said reports suggest Pohamba is operating from rented premises, while Mbumba is entitled to similar provisions under the existing law.
While the Constitution is clear on matters relating to a presidential tenure, Venaani said the question of privileges, entitlement, and support afforded to former presidents falls under various policy decisions and administrative practices, particularly guided by the Presidential Emoluments and Pensions Act of 2004.
This act specifies what benefits are due to former presidents, including office space, staff, transport, and security, all of which are funded by the state.
Although Namibia has rightly chosen to honour former heads of state, and in doing so is acknowledging their service to the country, it is equally important that such an honour is balanced with fiscal responsibility, Venaani said.
He said the state has an obligation to ensure all resources, including immovable property and office infrastructure, are managed efficiently, transparently and sustainably.
Venaani said the current framework and practice around the allocation of offices to former presidents should be revisited. The deaths of founding president Sam Nujoma and former president Hage Geingob raises practical questions about the continued use and future management of their state-provided offices, Venaani said.
He asked whether there are plans or budgetary provisions for the construction of a new office for Mbumba, and if so, whether a cost-benefit analysis has been been conducted.
“Can the prime minister provide a breakdown of the total annual expenditure for each former president’s office, including security, utilities, personnel, and maintenance costs?” he asked.
Venaani further asked prime minister Elijah Ngurare whether the office currently occupied by Pohamba is indeed a rental property and if so what its annual rental cost involves.
Given the precedent being set, Venaani asked if the current model of provisioning is scalable and fiscally sustainable over the coming decade.
He also wanted to know if the government intends to review or amend the former presidents’ pension and other benefits to reflect changing economic realities. In 2022, former presidents are reported to have pocketed a total of close to N$140 million as part of of their privileges after retiring.
As part of their privileges, heads of state get a tax free salary, lifetime tax free pension payment, paid travel allowances, as well as a house when they retire.
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