Re-registered NEFF bemoans delay in party funding, salaries
The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has accused government of deliberate sabotage due to delays in releasing parliamentary funds due to the party, as well as salaries for its members of parliament, which have accrued since the party was unlawfully deregistered by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) earlier this year.
The delays have impacted the party's campaign, with NEFF arguing that the 27 November election cannot be declared free and fair when authorities deliberately withhold much-needed funds from the party and its leaders.
NEFF leader Epafras Mukwiilongo told Namibian Sun that, after long delays, the party funds were received on Friday. However, his salary and that of his deputy, Kalimbo Iipumbu, remain outstanding, severely impacting their personal lives, he said.
“It is only the party funding that was released on Friday. It is really a bad time for us because we are supposed to be campaigning. We even had life insurance policies that were supposed to be deducted, and the people that work for us have now not been paid for months," Mukwiilongo said.
"These people are just abusing their powers. Last week Monday, they [parliament] told us to wait – every time we are told to wait. Maybe we have to wait until Jesus comes, or when?” he said.
Admin delay blamed
Secretary to the National Assembly Lydia Kandetu expressed surprise to learn that payments to NEFF and its lawmakers are outstanding, suggesting it could be due to an administrative hiccup.
“What I know is that they have to be paid out. That is the directive I gave last week. The payments of government are done on Tuesdays. Their salaries are there. We did not touch their salaries, so they should receive everything in full when it is paid out to them,” she said.
ECN had accused the party of failing to lodge its audited financial statements for the period of 2022/2023 and failing to publish 2020/2021s and 2021/2022s abridged versions of audited financial statements in two daily newspapers with national circulation, as required by law.
Following the deregistration, NEFF was told its lawmakers must vacate parliament, meaning Mukwiilongo and his deputy, Iipumbu, had to temporarily quit their seats.
However, after successfully appealing the ECN's decision, Mukwiilongo and Iipumbu are now returning to the chambers.
“This whole thing is just a few individuals who are targeting us because of their political affiliation,” Mukwiilongo claimed.
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The delays have impacted the party's campaign, with NEFF arguing that the 27 November election cannot be declared free and fair when authorities deliberately withhold much-needed funds from the party and its leaders.
NEFF leader Epafras Mukwiilongo told Namibian Sun that, after long delays, the party funds were received on Friday. However, his salary and that of his deputy, Kalimbo Iipumbu, remain outstanding, severely impacting their personal lives, he said.
“It is only the party funding that was released on Friday. It is really a bad time for us because we are supposed to be campaigning. We even had life insurance policies that were supposed to be deducted, and the people that work for us have now not been paid for months," Mukwiilongo said.
"These people are just abusing their powers. Last week Monday, they [parliament] told us to wait – every time we are told to wait. Maybe we have to wait until Jesus comes, or when?” he said.
Admin delay blamed
Secretary to the National Assembly Lydia Kandetu expressed surprise to learn that payments to NEFF and its lawmakers are outstanding, suggesting it could be due to an administrative hiccup.
“What I know is that they have to be paid out. That is the directive I gave last week. The payments of government are done on Tuesdays. Their salaries are there. We did not touch their salaries, so they should receive everything in full when it is paid out to them,” she said.
ECN had accused the party of failing to lodge its audited financial statements for the period of 2022/2023 and failing to publish 2020/2021s and 2021/2022s abridged versions of audited financial statements in two daily newspapers with national circulation, as required by law.
Following the deregistration, NEFF was told its lawmakers must vacate parliament, meaning Mukwiilongo and his deputy, Iipumbu, had to temporarily quit their seats.
However, after successfully appealing the ECN's decision, Mukwiilongo and Iipumbu are now returning to the chambers.
“This whole thing is just a few individuals who are targeting us because of their political affiliation,” Mukwiilongo claimed.
[email protected]
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