Nothing wrong with my perks – Venaani
The PDM leader will now be entitled to a taxpayer-funded car, bodyguard, personal assistant, driver and an office at Parliament.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani says he did not know President Hage Geingob eventually signed off on additional perks for the office of the leader of the official opposition, which he holds, adding that there is nothing wrong with beefing up the office.
These sentiments come a day after Namibian Sun reported that Geingob last month signed off on additional perks for Venaani and that he will now be entitled to a taxpayer-funded car, bodyguard, personal assistant, driver and an office at Parliament.
The approval of these benefits is contained in a government gazette dated 4 March.
“I have not received any benefit as we speak, since the recommendations and approval were made in 2017. No one came to me to appraise me on the gazette,” he said yesterday.
Venaani added that he is willing to be accorded only one vehicle, even if it is second-hand.
Opposition without support
“What is wrong is to give retired generals and speakers benefits while a functioning office of opposition is the only one without support tools. Should we not give benefits to a mayor because he is opposition? The question is why is the only office in the opposition realm without support since it was approved in 2017?” he asked.
Venaani added: “We lobbied support from global partners to assist National Assembly with researchers and we hope to get support. There is serious lack of research capacity at Parliament.”
He is on record saying official motorcades should consist of only one armoured Mercedes-Benz and the rest should be Toyota Corolla sedans.
Asked whether he will be making use of a Corolla, he retorted: “The Corolla was in context of security vehicles, do not confuse things.”
Cushy
His current perks include water and electricity (N$48 240), transport (N$94 400), housing (N$159 222) and telephone (N$864) allowances.
As a public office-bearer, Venaani is entitled to two vehicles, a sedan and an off-road one.
The monthly fuel usage is capped at 1 080 litres for both cars. This is about N$14 000 worth of fuel monthly.
Currently, his annual basic salary stands at N$693 240, which increases to N$996 006 when perks are added.
WINDHOEK
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani says he did not know President Hage Geingob eventually signed off on additional perks for the office of the leader of the official opposition, which he holds, adding that there is nothing wrong with beefing up the office.
These sentiments come a day after Namibian Sun reported that Geingob last month signed off on additional perks for Venaani and that he will now be entitled to a taxpayer-funded car, bodyguard, personal assistant, driver and an office at Parliament.
The approval of these benefits is contained in a government gazette dated 4 March.
“I have not received any benefit as we speak, since the recommendations and approval were made in 2017. No one came to me to appraise me on the gazette,” he said yesterday.
Venaani added that he is willing to be accorded only one vehicle, even if it is second-hand.
Opposition without support
“What is wrong is to give retired generals and speakers benefits while a functioning office of opposition is the only one without support tools. Should we not give benefits to a mayor because he is opposition? The question is why is the only office in the opposition realm without support since it was approved in 2017?” he asked.
Venaani added: “We lobbied support from global partners to assist National Assembly with researchers and we hope to get support. There is serious lack of research capacity at Parliament.”
He is on record saying official motorcades should consist of only one armoured Mercedes-Benz and the rest should be Toyota Corolla sedans.
Asked whether he will be making use of a Corolla, he retorted: “The Corolla was in context of security vehicles, do not confuse things.”
Cushy
His current perks include water and electricity (N$48 240), transport (N$94 400), housing (N$159 222) and telephone (N$864) allowances.
As a public office-bearer, Venaani is entitled to two vehicles, a sedan and an off-road one.
The monthly fuel usage is capped at 1 080 litres for both cars. This is about N$14 000 worth of fuel monthly.
Currently, his annual basic salary stands at N$693 240, which increases to N$996 006 when perks are added.
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