N$50 hike in social pensions

PENSIONERS are the only citizens set to benefit directly from the 2004-05 National Budget.

They can expect their pensions to increase to N$300 a month from April 1 – up from N$250. Pensions were last increased in February 2002, from N$200 to N$250 a month.Making the announcement to resounding applause yesterday, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the move was intended to alleviate poverty.She added that the pension hike was in recognition of the prevailing social situation in which many elderly people headed low-income households with limited access to income-generating opportunities.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said society’s increasing reliance on senior-citizens to raise and care for orphans and other vulnerable children, was exacerbating their plight.The N$10 million allocated in last year’s Budget to address the needs of orphans and vulnerable children – estimated at about 120 000 – has yet to be utilised.Logistical delays have been cited as the reason for this, but the Minister said she had been assured that the money would be used this year.In October, the DTA proposed in the National Assembly that pensions be increased to N$550.At the time, some 108 423 senior citizens were registered to receive grants.In response to these pleas, Health Minister Libertina Amathila said her budget could not shoulder an increase and that the available funds were needed to upgrade health facilities.Responding to the pension increase, CoD MP Tsudao Gurirab said afterwards that what could be viewed by some as the highlight of the Budget was in effect not so.He claimed that in real terms the monthly allowance of N$300 was less than what pensioners received 10 years ago.Pensions were last increased in February 2002, from N$200 to N$250 a month.Making the announcement to resounding applause yesterday, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the move was intended to alleviate poverty.She added that the pension hike was in recognition of the prevailing social situation in which many elderly people headed low-income households with limited access to income-generating opportunities.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said society’s increasing reliance on senior-citizens to raise and care for orphans and other vulnerable children, was exacerbating their plight.The N$10 million allocated in last year’s Budget to address the needs of orphans and vulnerable children – estimated at about 120 000 – has yet to be utilised.Logistical delays have been cited as the reason for this, but the Minister said she had been assured that the money would be used this year.In October, the DTA proposed in the National Assembly that pensions be increased to N$550.At the time, some 108 423 senior citizens were registered to receive grants.In response to these pleas, Health Minister Libertina Amathila said her budget could not shoulder an increase and that the available funds were needed to upgrade health facilities.Responding to the pension increase, CoD MP Tsudao Gurirab said afterwards that what could be viewed by some as the highlight of the Budget was in effect not so.He claimed that in real terms the monthly allowance of N$300 was less than what pensioners received 10 years ago.