National Assembly wants former MP to pay back N$51 000 S&T, basic salary

… Parliament wants former MP Kandume to return N$51 000 S&T, basic salary

Parliament wants withdrawn member of parliament Gotthard Kandume to pay back a collective N$51 000.

This amount was allegedly overpaid to him on basic salary and daily subsistence allowance in June and July this year.

Kandume ceased to be a member of the National Assembly in June, after the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) deregistered his party, Christian Democratic Voice (CDV), alongside the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF).

The two parties were deregistered after they failed to publicly publish their audited financial reports. The NEFF successfully challenged the deregistration in court, but CDV remains deregistered.

According to a letter written to Kandume by the National Assembly on 15 August, Kandume has a ministerial debt for daily subsistence allowance for official trips from Windhoek to Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Nkurenkuru and back to Windhoek.

“When you ceased to be a member of the National Assembly with effect from 21 June as per the ECN, letter dated 21 June in terms of section 153 of the Electoral Act, as amended, you were paid up to 31 July 2024 instead of 21 June 2024, and it resulted in overpayment of N$42 700 plus N$8 242 ministerial debt for daily subsistence allowance. The total debt you owe to the government is N$51 016,” Lydia Kandetu says.

Kandetu asked Kandume to inform the National Assembly whether he would settle the debt with cash at the finance department or if the National Assembly should deduct the debt from his pension.

Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Kandume said after he was withdrawn from the National Assembly, he lost his monthly income as well as government subsidy of N$654 000, which would have been paid in June this year and January next year. Kandume said he and his party are planning to sue the ECN, and take them to court to challenge the deregistration.

Kandume also said the party offices situated at Khomasdal have been locked by the owner of the building as the party has not been able to pay rent.

“We don’t have access to our office at Khomasdal and our four party officials have lost incomes,” he said.

Kandume said now that he has lost his salary, he survives on his savings.

He also said he does not have access to his medical aid. Kandume claims that the ECN is “fighting directly with God” when it deregistered his party.

He said he wants the ECN commissioners fired because, according to him, they do not do their jobs properly.

“Now that they have deregistered us, which party do they want in the National Assembly? I have never created a problem in parliament, I have never fought Swapo. I am very friendly,” Kandume said.

According to him, his party has been too lenient on the ECN, but this time, Kandume said, it will teach ECN a lesson.

“You don’t fight a Christian party because you are fighting directly with God, himself,” Kandume said.

ECN spokesperson Mulauli Siluka was not available for comment yesterday.