National Council quartet claim N$1m for trip to the west

The National Council is in the process of allocating just over N$1 million for a 20-day mission abroad involving four officials, one of whom wants to purchase warm clothes.National Council vice-chairperson Victoria Kauma, director in that house of parliament Petrus Kavihura, personal assistant Auguste Shali and Bernard Mwira, a private secretary, will jet off to the United States of America and Switzerland next month.Documents obtained by Namibian Sun revealed that Kauma will be in New York from 8 to 20 March with Kavihura and Shali to attend a session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.Kauma will then move on to Geneva for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) from 21 to 28 March with Kavihura and Mwira.The motivation for the funding request highlighted Mwira&#039;s need for a clothing allowance to purchase winter attire, alongside a specific request for premium economy and window seats in the first rows of the plane.The daily subsistence travel allowance is N$600 000, with N$325 000 allocated to Kauma, N$160 000 to Kavihura, N$70 000 to Shali and N$46 000 to Mwira. The ticket expenses are pegged at N$400 000, with N$200 000 earmarked for Kauma, N$80 000 for Kavihura and N$60 000 for both Shali and Mwira.Kauma and Kavihura are scheduled to be on this mission for the entire 20 days, while Shali and Mwira will be present for 12 and eight days respectively. The finance department of the National Council has assured that the funds are available and will be reserved for March.‘Job distribution’Tousy Namiseb, secretary of the National Council, yesterday confirmed to Namibian Sun that a delegation will attend the IPU. He added that beyond the four officials previously mentioned, others – members of both the National Council and the National Assembly, each with their own support staff – will attend.He also pointed out that Namibia’s currency is very weak against that of other countries and therefore the budget will seem excessive. Asked whether there will be no duplication of roles among all the staff members set to attend, Namiseb explained that it is a matter of ‘job distribution’.“If the member of parliament feels that it is an extended time and they don’t want to overburden one person, they might take along an additional person to do some tasks - like a personal assistant who can help with the logistics and a private secretary who works in a private capacity. Then there is also a need for people who can do research for these members,” he said. According to him, these events are essential for members of parliament and serve as a training ground. Meanwhile, cross-cultural exchanges will help them with their oversight duties and sharpening their skills, he said. Raised eyebrowsIn recent times, there has been growing concern regarding the frequent and seemingly excessive travel undertaken by National Council officials, including lawmakers. This trend, which has been observed over the past year, shows little sign of slowing down in the current fiscal period. Insiders familiar with the matter have revealed instances where top managers would insist on being included in travel plans, even when the trip necessitated only a personal assistant or clerk. This practice has raised eyebrows, with questions arising about the motives behind such requests and the potential misuse of resources.Furthermore, concerns have been voiced regarding the choice of travel mode for certain engagements. Despite the availability of virtual communication platforms like Zoom, officials have reportedly opted for in-person travel, even for engagements that could have been conducted remotely. This decision has prompted speculation about the necessity and cost-effectiveness of physical travel in such instances.New Era recently reported that for the 2022/23 financial year, the National Council was allocated a total budget of approximately N$120 million. Of this total, a significant portion - around N$75 million - was earmarked for salaries and various other benefits for officials and staff.jemima@namibiansun.com

National Council quartet claim N$1m for trip to the west

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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National Council quartet claim N$1m for trip to the west

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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