MPs receive N$72 airtime, too

Namibian members of parliament receive an airtime allowance of N$72 monthly, which National Unity Democratic Organisation&#039;s (Nudo) Joseph ‘Jossie’ Kauandenge says is a pittance.This is in addition to cellphones parliamentarians received towards the end of last year, which has irked many Namibians.Kauandenge, a critic of government&#039;s lavish spending, said cellphones are part of their employment conditions, which they had foregone for nearly three years due to the country’s economic state.“If it is part of my conditions of service - irrespective of what the public thinks - why can’t I have it?” he asked.He said the amount of work members of parliament do justified the high-end phones and, in fact, the airtime allowance was too little to enable complete work by lawmakers.“We are [using] our own airtime, in fact. The current rate of parliament, you are getting N$72 per month. What is that, for God’s sake?,” he said.“You are only getting a cellphone without anything, you [load] your own airtime.”The Namibian yesterday reported that lawmakers received swanky iPhones and high-end Samsung phones as part of efforts to digitise parliament.Meanwhile, on the salaries and benefits paid to members of parliament, Kauandenge said Namibians ought to do a comparative study to establish whether lawmakers are remunerated fairly.An ordinary parliamentarian in the National Assembly earns N$620 000, which translates to around N$51 000 per month.“Is that really too much money? In what sense is that too much money?” he asked.FallacyThe notion that lawmakers are handsomely rewarded is a fallacy, Kauandenge said.“A back-bencher in Namibia earns N$30 000. After deductions, you go home with N$27 000, N$26 000 per month. A person out there might think you are highly paid.”Further, opposition lawmakers who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity confirmed that the N$72 allowance is paid as part of the monthly pay package.“It comes in the salary so you don’t even notice it,” one said, with another chiming in: “We don’t get airtime, what was there was a stationery allowance in the region of N$42. It’s part of the monthly salary”.MisleadingParliament has in the meantime defended its choice to gift lawmakers the phones, saying it is part of efforts to gear the transition towards an electronic parliamentary set-up.“This step was critical in developing an e-Parliament concept that incorporates modern and dependable digital technologies in order to achieve a democratic and citizen-centered parliament,” a statement read.The idea that government “blessed” members of the National Assembly with free iPhones is misleading, it said, adding that the devices are intended to assist them in carrying out their legislative duties.

MPs receive N$72 airtime, too

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-25

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MPs receive N$72 airtime, too

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-25

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