Swapo loses N$9m in parliament funding
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Following its loss of 12 seats in the National Council in last year’s election, the ruling party Swapo is set to lose N$8.9 million from monies accrued from its representation in that house of parliament.
Meanwhile, opposition parties can expect a financial shot in the arm for the parliamentary terms under review, owing to their performance in the local and regional elections that were held in November 2020.
Political parties, organisations and independent candidates will receive N$745 000 yearly per seat held in either house of parliament. This was confirmed by finance ministry spokesperson Tonateni Shidhudhu and National Council spokesperson Momley Mushendje.
This is based on the reduced funding parliament will get in the 2021/22 fiscal year for the number of seats in both the National Assembly and the National Council.
The ministry of finance allocated N$102.7 million to parliament for the allocations to political parties, organisations and independent candidates.
A breakdown
Following its performance in the National Assembly elections in 2019 - when it lost 14 seats in that house of parliament - and the 12 more it lost in the National Council following last year’s regional council election, Swapo’s collective loss in both houses would amount to N$19.3 million.
The party is set to receive a collective parliamentary funding of N$67.8 million – a huge reduction from the N$96 million received during the previous term.
The Popular Democratic Movement is expected to receive an extra N$1.49 million in funding for winning two additional seats in the National Council. The Landless People’s Movement sees its funding for the financial year increase by N$4.47 million as a result of the additional six seats it now occupies in the National Council.
New kid to the block Independent Patriots for Change will get a nifty N$1.49 million for its first year of representation in the National Council after winning two seats in last year’s election.
Promote democracy
Commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah said political parties should use the funding they get to promote democracy, saying it is meant to help them drive political agendas.
“Funding has been a problem for political parties; it has been hampering recruitment. With more funding, it is a boost to expand programmes and activities,” he said.
He urged parties to use the funds allocated to them responsibly, urging that at the end, it is still public money.
“It is not their money; it is the public’s money that is given to them to promote democracy,” he said.
In 2019, the Institute of Public Policy Research questioned the funding government allocates to political parties. “The dramatic increase of party finance from the state came at a time when the Namibian government was already in a tight spot, financially speaking,” it said at the time.
WINDHOEK
Following its loss of 12 seats in the National Council in last year’s election, the ruling party Swapo is set to lose N$8.9 million from monies accrued from its representation in that house of parliament.
Meanwhile, opposition parties can expect a financial shot in the arm for the parliamentary terms under review, owing to their performance in the local and regional elections that were held in November 2020.
Political parties, organisations and independent candidates will receive N$745 000 yearly per seat held in either house of parliament. This was confirmed by finance ministry spokesperson Tonateni Shidhudhu and National Council spokesperson Momley Mushendje.
This is based on the reduced funding parliament will get in the 2021/22 fiscal year for the number of seats in both the National Assembly and the National Council.
The ministry of finance allocated N$102.7 million to parliament for the allocations to political parties, organisations and independent candidates.
A breakdown
Following its performance in the National Assembly elections in 2019 - when it lost 14 seats in that house of parliament - and the 12 more it lost in the National Council following last year’s regional council election, Swapo’s collective loss in both houses would amount to N$19.3 million.
The party is set to receive a collective parliamentary funding of N$67.8 million – a huge reduction from the N$96 million received during the previous term.
The Popular Democratic Movement is expected to receive an extra N$1.49 million in funding for winning two additional seats in the National Council. The Landless People’s Movement sees its funding for the financial year increase by N$4.47 million as a result of the additional six seats it now occupies in the National Council.
New kid to the block Independent Patriots for Change will get a nifty N$1.49 million for its first year of representation in the National Council after winning two seats in last year’s election.
Promote democracy
Commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah said political parties should use the funding they get to promote democracy, saying it is meant to help them drive political agendas.
“Funding has been a problem for political parties; it has been hampering recruitment. With more funding, it is a boost to expand programmes and activities,” he said.
He urged parties to use the funds allocated to them responsibly, urging that at the end, it is still public money.
“It is not their money; it is the public’s money that is given to them to promote democracy,” he said.
In 2019, the Institute of Public Policy Research questioned the funding government allocates to political parties. “The dramatic increase of party finance from the state came at a time when the Namibian government was already in a tight spot, financially speaking,” it said at the time.
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