It is the type of retirement package that even those leaders most wedded to their jobs might be seduced by.
When outgoing Namibian President Sam Nujoma hands over power to his successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, on March 21, he will continue receiving the same monthly salary as the new leader of the country.
For the first year of retirement, Nujoma will also receive an extra gratuity equal to a year’s salary (which amounts to just over $71 000). All of this money will be tax-exempt.
Three cars will be also provided for Nujoma: a Mercedes Benz S500 (which currently retails locally for about $146 000), a four wheel drive station wagon and a light truck.
Namibian taxpayers will also foot the bill for about ten security personnel, three drivers, two private secretaries, two personal assistants, two office attendants, three domestic workers, three gardeners, two cooks, two waiters and two laundry persons to run Nujoma’s household.
In addition, he will get an office equipped with computers, telephones, furniture and other materials as may be determined by the Cabinet. Provision has also been made for medical cover, first class seats on international flights and local travel — as well as entertainment, water and electricity expenses.
The Bill authorising these benefits, which opposition parties voted against, became law towards the end of last year.
Carola Engelbrecht, Secretary General of the Republican Party, said that she was not opposed to a reasonable retirement package being provided for the president.
However, it was ”incomprehensible” that Nujoma could have accepted the benefits granted to him, given current levels of poverty in Namibia: ”Where is the empathy for his people who have struggled and suffered with him before independence?”
The ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), with its two-thirds majority in Parliament, was able to disregard the wishes of opposition parties in this matter.
But, this hasn’t prevented Nujoma’s package from becoming a topic of lively discussion amongst Namibian citizens.
”It’s not a pension, it’s a fortune,” says Rosa Uiras, a domestic worker and the single parent of three children. Comparing the outgoing president’s package with the monthly pension of about $51 that the government provides for other senior citizens, she adds: ”I don’t find it good. It’s very bad.”
Uiras, who lives in Katutura, a low income suburb of the capital, Windhoek, feels particularly aggrieved by the fact that Nujoma will not even have to pay his water and electricity bills.
”He must feel like a human being and should say ‘no’ to this package,” she said.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Ndapewa Nghipandulwa, the president of the Namibia National Teachers’ Union said, ”As much as we appreciate what Nujoma has done for the nation, can we really afford such an extravaganza style?”
Nghipandulwa points out that there are still not enough schools in the country, while many people are ”not having … enough to eat and no shelter, no electricity” — something she sees as a potential threat to the long-term stability of Namibia.
According to the latest United Nations Human Development Report, almost 35% of Namibians live below the poverty line of $1 a day.
Nujoma became the first president of Namibia (formerly known as South West Africa) after the country gained independence from South Africa in 1990. This was preceded by an armed struggle spearheaded by Swapo, that began in 1966.
The president was re-elected to office in 1994 and 1999. Nujoma is apparently planning to study geology at the University of Namibia after stepping down next month. – Sapa-IPS