President’s payout ‘to be modest’

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma will receive a “modest” retirement package, according to some senior Government officials.

The officials described the proposed payout as a triumph over “sycophants” who, they claimed, wanted to feather their own nests in the process. The proposed package is contained in a Bill, entitled the ‘Former Presidents’ Pension and Other Benefits Bill’, that Justice Minister Albert Kawana said last week he will introduce in the National Assembly tomorrow.The Bill suggests that Nujoma should be paid a pension equal to his basic salary at retirement.In 1998, the President’s salary was N$440 000 a year.He will be the only former president to receive a full-salary pension.Future ex-presidents will follow the public service rule and receive a pension payment equal to 80 per cent of their salaries.”Only Nujoma gets 100 per cent … because it is Nujoma,” said a senior Government politician.”But the rest of the package is very, very modest, I assure you.”Most obvious for Nujoma, will be a decrease in the motorcade, housekeepers and security detail.The Namibian understands that at least four Government vehicles will be assigned to the former president – two sedans and two 4×4 motor vehicles, with the total limited to six.The drafters of the Bill reportedly suggested keeping the number of housekeepers or domestic workers and security guards to below eight, though the actual number is expected to be lower at any given time.Former Namibian presidents, as happens in other countries, will also get to fly for free or indeed at the expense of the taxpayer.The Namibian learned that the Bill proposes four international flights a year, including for spouse and family, as well as a limited number of domestic flights.According to people who have seen the Bill, Nujoma will not get a Government house, despite persistent reports and suggestions within the ruling party that he be offered the State House where he now lives.However, it is expected that the package will include a housing allowance that is sufficient to enable the former President to build a house of the value equivalent to what the State intended to offer.The sources said attempts by some politicians to include golden handshakes for Cabinet members and other parliamentarians were denied as too extravagant for people who already have hefty pension provisions, whereby Government contributes 25 per cent of their pay.”Some people wanted to include themselves in the package but that was shot down.It is always the sycophants who get the Government into spending a lot of money, not politicians like President Nujoma,” said an official.According to him, the cost of building the new State House had ballooned as a result of zealousness on the part of “technocrats” to please.Former prime ministers, who by law are acting presidents, are also likely to be included in the package.Justice Minister Kawana declined to comment about the Bill that he will introduced in parliament.However, he criticised the commentary in Friday’s The Namibian that called for prudence as “nonsensical, racist and uncalled for” saying it targeted Nujoma individually.”[T]his law is not meant for President Sam Nujoma” but for all future former presidents.”You are commenting on something before you have even seen it,” said Kawana.”I have never seen such kind of nonsensical reporting in the history of Namibia.”Kawana complained about the comparison the commentary made to retired presidents in the United States.It is not clear yet whether funding for the Sam Nujoma Foundation, created by the Swapo Party, will be included in the retirement package.The proposed package is contained in a Bill, entitled the ‘Former Presidents’ Pension and Other Benefits Bill’, that Justice Minister Albert Kawana said last week he will introduce in the National Assembly tomorrow.The Bill suggests that Nujoma should be paid a pension equal to his basic salary at retirement.In 1998, the President’s salary was N$440 000 a year.He will be the only former president to receive a full-salary pension.Future ex-presidents will follow the public service rule and receive a pension payment equal to 80 per cent of their salaries.”Only Nujoma gets 100 per cent … because it is Nujoma,” said a senior Government politician.”But the rest of the package is very, very modest, I assure you.”Most obvious for Nujoma, will be a decrease in the motorcade, housekeepers and security detail.The Namibian understands that at least four Government vehicles will be assigned to the former president – two sedans and two 4×4 motor vehicles, with the total limited to six.The drafters of the Bill reportedly suggested keeping the number of housekeepers or domestic workers and security guards to below eight, though the actual number is expected to be lower at any given time.Former Namibian presidents, as happens in other countries, will also get to fly for free or indeed at the expense of the taxpayer.The Namibian learned that the Bill proposes four international flights a year, including for spouse and family, as well as a limited number of domestic flights.According to people who have seen the Bill, Nujoma will not get a Government house, despite persistent reports and suggestions within the ruling party that he be offered the State House where he now lives.However, it is expected that the package will include a housing allowance that is sufficient to enable the former President to build a house of the value equivalent to what the State intended to offer.The sources said attempts by some politicians to include golden handshakes for Cabinet members and other parliamentarians were denied as too extravagant for people who already have hefty pension provisions, whereby Government contributes 25 per cent of their pay.”Some people wanted to include themselves in the package but that was shot down.It is always the sycophants who get the Government into spending a lot of money, not politicians like President Nujoma,” said an official.According to him, the cost of building the new State House had ballooned as a result of zealousness on the part of “technocrats” to please.Former prime ministers, who by law are acting presidents, are also likely to be included in the package.Justice Minister Kawana declined to comment about the Bill that he will introduced in parliament.However, he criticised the commentary in Friday’s The Namibian that called for prudence as “nonsensical, racist and uncalled for” saying it targeted Nujoma individually.”[T]his law is not meant for President Sam Nujoma” but for all future former presidents.”You are commenting on something before you have even seen it,” said Kawana.”I have never seen such kind of nonsensical reporting in the history of Namibia.”Kawana complained about the comparison the commentary made to retired presidents in the United States.It is not clear yet whether funding for the Sam Nujoma Foundation, created by the Swapo Party, will be included in the retirement package.