Wealth of Witbooi and Ithete revealed

Vice-President Lucia Witbooi has declared ownership of several properties, including a residential house in Gibeon, an undeveloped communal flat in the Hardap Region, and a house in Windhoek. These assets were disclosed during her tenure as deputy minister of home affairs and appear in the 2024 parliamentary asset register.Witbooi served as a member of the National Assembly from 2009 until her appointment as vice-president earlier this year. It remains unclear whether her net worth has changed since her last declaration. As vice-president and no longer a member of parliament, she is not legally required to declare her assets going forward - similar to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.Witbooi also reported no shares, financial interests, or external income. However, under the asset register’s directorship section, she listed her role as a board director of Namib //Uib Fishing, in which she holds a 12% stake.Under the benefits section, she noted workmen’s compensation under social security, a teacher’s pension from Sanlam, an old-age pension from the government, and a matured life insurance policy from Metropolitan.Job perksAs vice-president, Witbooi earns an untaxed annual salary of N$1.5 million - about N$129 000 per month. Her pay is pegged at 15% above that of the prime minister, in accordance with the Public Office-Bearers (Remuneration and Benefits) Commission Act of 2005.Meanwhile, deputy prime minister and minister of industrialisation, mines, and energy, Natangwe Ithete, declared four residential properties in Otjiwarongo, Okahao, Oshakati, and Ongwediva. He also listed interests in two close corporations - Danat Investment and Misway Investment - without providing further detail.The focus now shifts to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, who is new to parliament and still in the process of registering his assets.The president’s portfolioAs previously reported by Namibian Sun, President Nandi-Ndaitwah declared multiple properties in 2023, including a family house in Windhoek, a plot in Henties Bay, a plot in Okongo, two plots in Eenhana, and a 5 220-hectare farm at an undisclosed location.The parliamentary register does not specify the number or value of livestock on the farm but notes donations of one bull from the Omaheke community and four heifers from Otjozondjupa.In addition, her former campaign manager for the 2022 Swapo congress, Kaire Mbuende, gifted her four Bonsmara heifers, a bull, and two oxen. Mbuende, a seasoned farmer, faced internal criticism within Swapo over the gesture, with some alleging the donation may have been an attempt to curry favour with the then-frontrunner for the presidency. In March, Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Mbuende as director-general of the National Planning Commission (NPC).The president declared no shares, financial interests, or external income but did list UNESCO under the “sponsorship” section, although no additional information was provided.As head of state, Nandi-Ndaitwah earns an untaxed annual salary of N$1.7 million - about N$146 000 per month - a benefit guaranteed for life.nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

Wealth of Witbooi and Ithete revealed

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

Please login to leave a comment

Wealth of Witbooi and Ithete revealed

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

Please login to leave a comment

Login