It is the type of retirement package by which even those leaders most wedded to their jobs might be seduced.
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 Southern African country’s new leader.
For the first year of retirement, Nujoma will also receive an extra gratuity equal to a year’s salary (which amounts to just more than R421 000). All of this money will be tax-exempt.
Three cars will be provided for Nujoma: a Mercedes-Benz S500 (which currently retails locally for about R867 000), a four-wheel-drive station wagon and a light truck.
Namibian taxpayers will also foot the bill for about 10 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.
In the course of Parliament’s debate on the Bill, Nora Schimming-Chase — vice-president of the Congress of Democrats, Namibia’s leading opposition group — insisted that Nujoma, as the owner of more than one farm, should pay a contribution to his medical aid fund.
Carola Engelbrecht, secretary general of the Republican Party, said she is not opposed to a reasonable retirement package being provided for the president.
However, it is ”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 R300 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 the retired president 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 observes.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Ndapewa Nghipandulwa — 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.
For his part, Paulus Kapia, secretary general of the Swapo Youth League, is fully in favour of the retirement package.
However, in an interview with Germany’s Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany), he declined to discuss whether the larger needs of Namibian society might cause some to question the wisdom of extending Nujoma extensive benefits. A query as to whether a retired leader is really in need of three cars was labelled as ”completely irresponsible”.
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. Reports indicate that he is set to pursue geology studies at the University of Namibia after stepping down next month. — IPS