Sumptuous State House ‘pro poor’

THE construction of the new, multi-million dollar State House is pro-poor because it has created jobs through Namibian companies subcontracted for the project and because local products, such as marble and wood, are among materials being used.

This was said by Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, in the National Assembly during debate on the budget for the Office of the President. He was responding to queries by fellow Parliamentarians on this year’s N$230,16 million budget allocation for the President’s Office.Kawana tried to shrug off the questions by saying that the opposition had been “opposed to the construction right from the start”.He maintained that there was no reason for this.The total cost of the new State House, situated in Windhoek’s Auasblick suburb, is expected to be well over N$500 million by the time it is completed.It is being built by North Koreans.Construction started while Swapo Party President Sam Nujoma was still State President.Kawana on Tuesday described the new State House as a symbol of Namibia’s struggle for Independence, unity and peace.He said 37 local companies had worked on it – thus creating jobs.”The marble used there is from Namibia and the woodwork comes from the Kavango.That’s why we say the construction is pro-poor,” Kawana said.Almost half (N$108,92 million) of this year’s budget (N$230,16 million) for the Office of the President will be spent on the construction of the new State House.Congress of Democrats Member of Parliament Tsudao Gurirab claimed that the money used for the construction will hit the N$1 billion mark by the end of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).In addition to this year’s N$108,92 million, Gurirab said, N$17 million had been set aside for furniture.”What will happen to the other furniture? Can we look forward to an auction to buy the old furniture?” he asked.Republican Party leader Henk Mudge asked Kawana to give the National Assembly a breakdown of the costs of the new State House.”What is needed to complete it? One should know who got what and for what,” Mudge said.Kawana said State House would give a detailed financial report at the inauguration of the building.”We will surprise you (with the money spent).I don’t know where you (Gurirab) got that amount.Maybe it’s his propaganda,” he responded.He was responding to queries by fellow Parliamentarians on this year’s N$230,16 million budget allocation for the President’s Office.Kawana tried to shrug off the questions by saying that the opposition had been “opposed to the construction right from the start”.He maintained that there was no reason for this.The total cost of the new State House, situated in Windhoek’s Auasblick suburb, is expected to be well over N$500 million by the time it is completed.It is being built by North Koreans.Construction started while Swapo Party President Sam Nujoma was still State President. Kawana on Tuesday described the new State House as a symbol of Namibia’s struggle for Independence, unity and peace.He said 37 local companies had worked on it – thus creating jobs.”The marble used there is from Namibia and the woodwork comes from the Kavango.That’s why we say the construction is pro-poor,” Kawana said.Almost half (N$108,92 million) of this year’s budget (N$230,16 million) for the Office of the President will be spent on the construction of the new State House.Congress of Democrats Member of Parliament Tsudao Gurirab claimed that the money used for the construction will hit the N$1 billion mark by the end of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).In addition to this year’s N$108,92 million, Gurirab said, N$17 million had been set aside for furniture.”What will happen to the other furniture? Can we look forward to an auction to buy the old furniture?” he asked.Republican Party leader Henk Mudge asked Kawana to give the National Assembly a breakdown of the costs of the new State House.”What is needed to complete it? One should know who got what and for what,” Mudge said.Kawana said State House would give a detailed financial report at the inauguration of the building.”We will surprise you (with the money spent).I don’t know where you (Gurirab) got that amount.Maybe it’s his propaganda,” he responded.