PM hits brakes on ‘bush allowance’ cuts

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has put on hold the implementation of revised duty station classifications that would have reshaped how government hardship and remoteness allowances are calculated for public servants.

The decision, communicated in an external memorandum dated 9 June and addressed to ministers, senior government officials and heads of agencies, affects Public Service Management Circular No. 18 of 2026.

The circular introduced a new system for categorising duty stations across government, which is used to determine eligibility for and levels of hardship and remoteness allowances.

However, Ngurare said the implementation would not proceed as planned.

“Following further consideration of the matter and representations received regarding the implementation of the revised categorisation of duty stations, it has been determined that further consultation with relevant stakeholders and a review of the issues raised are necessary,” he said.

The prime minister added that the implementation of the revised categorisation system, including all resulting adjustments to allowances, had been suspended until further notice.

The decision comes amid growing concern from public servants stationed in some of Namibia's most remote areas, who argued that the revised classifications failed to adequately account for the realities they face daily.

Tough work environment

Among those who appealed directly to Ngurare were staff members at Lazarus Haufiku Combined School in the Oshikunde circuit, near the Namibia-Angola border.

In a letter, the employees pleaded for the reinstatement of their 'bush allowance', describing living and working conditions as “extremely difficult and, in some cases, unsafe”.

According to the letter, 27 of the school's 29 staff members, including the principal, are forced to live in makeshift shacks because no staff housing is available. The school is located approximately 1.6 kilometres from the Angola border and is only accessible via poor road infrastructure.

The staff further said basic services are severely limited. Water is obtained from boreholes, there are no nearby shops, and employees must travel long distances at significant cost to access healthcare and other essential services.

The concerns raised by the school echo complaints from other public servants who feared the revised categorisation could result in reduced benefits despite the conditions under which they serve.

Ngurare said the suspension would take effect on 1 July, effectively freezing the rollout before any administrative changes could be applied.

During the suspension period, the duty station classifications and allowance levels that were in place on 31 March will remain applicable.

The prime minister said the pause would allow for urgent consultations with the Public Service Commission, recognised employee representatives and other stakeholders to determine an appropriate way forward.

All ministries, offices and agencies have been instructed to inform affected employees of the suspension and its implications.

Further directives are expected once the consultation process has been completed.