EDITORIAL: Scrutiny of executive perks is justified

Over the weekend, social media erupted into a digital courtroom as Namibians debated a long-standing controversy: the lavish perks of executives in public enterprises. The focal point? Luxury vehicles grant-ed to individuals who already take home handsome salaries - sparking the question: if they earn so much, why can’t they buy their own cars?It’s an old debate dressed in new headlines. On one side stand those who argue that attracting top-tier talent requires sweetening the deal - that executive packages must dazzle to compete with the private sector and retain high-level skills. On the other side, an increasingly frustrated public sees it differently. To them, the glitter of executive perks is not strategic - it’s symptomatic of a culture of entitlement, waste and detachment from reality. Why, they ask, should executives enjoy chauffeur-driven opulence while the entities they lead crumble under inefficiency and underperformance?Public enterprises are notorious for their inconsistent service delivery, financial mismanagement, and underwhelming impact. Yet, their executives live large - a contradiction that’s difficult to justify in a country where ordinary workers can’t keep up with living costs.Supporters of the perks insist that executive roles carry heavy responsibility. If a junior staffer fails, one person loses their job. But if a CEO fails, they argue, an entire organisation can collapse and hundreds of jobs can be affected. Their logic is simple: the higher the risk, the higher the reward.But this logic collapses when performance is absent. You can’t demand top-dollar pay for bottom-tier results. Incentives must be tied to measurable outcomes, not just titles and corner offices. Accountability cannot be a vague afterthought. If performance is poor, the perks should evaporate - just like they would for any other employee.

EDITORIAL: Scrutiny of executive perks is justified

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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EDITORIAL: Scrutiny of executive perks is justified

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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