PM also gets new wheels ‘after accident’
Govt to splash N$25m on new cars
The purchases of luxury vehicles for the prime minister and her deputy – for N$4 million – has been criticised by the opposition.
Government has bought the latest Toyota Land Cruiser SUV for Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, similar to one purchased for deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, after both officials were involved in separate road accidents with their previous vehicles.
Works ministry spokesperson Julius Ngweda confirmed the purchases – which are understood to be in the combined region of N$4 million - saying government had not replaced the vehicles that were involved in accidents.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila escaped unhurt after her official vehicle collided head-on with an Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) vehicle in April.
In December 2017, two people died near Oshivelo when their vehicle, which was overtaking a truck, collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle in which Nandi-Ndaitwah was travelling. She sustained injuries and was rushed to the Tsumeb State Hospital and subsequently airlifted to Windhoek for further medical attention.
‘Pool vehicles’
Ngweda yesterday said neither vehicle was replaced, hence the decision to purchase new ones from the N$25 million recently allocated to purchase vehicles for government officials.
Ngweda described the two new purchases as ‘pool vehicles’ allocated to the prime minister and her deputy, but said they will not be accessible for general use by other offices.
“They are pool cars, but due to security reasons, they will be allocated mostly to the two offices [of prime minister and deputy prime minister],” he told Namibian Sun.
The two vehicles are understood to have cost N$2 million each.
Leader of the opposition in parliament, McHenry Venaani, criticised the purchase on X, saying: “Leaders must not fool society [with] being concerned [about] poverty and have no limits at expenditure”.
He added that government has a policy on driving second-hand vehicles, which must be explored in situations like this.
Works ministry spokesperson Julius Ngweda confirmed the purchases – which are understood to be in the combined region of N$4 million - saying government had not replaced the vehicles that were involved in accidents.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila escaped unhurt after her official vehicle collided head-on with an Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) vehicle in April.
In December 2017, two people died near Oshivelo when their vehicle, which was overtaking a truck, collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle in which Nandi-Ndaitwah was travelling. She sustained injuries and was rushed to the Tsumeb State Hospital and subsequently airlifted to Windhoek for further medical attention.
‘Pool vehicles’
Ngweda yesterday said neither vehicle was replaced, hence the decision to purchase new ones from the N$25 million recently allocated to purchase vehicles for government officials.
Ngweda described the two new purchases as ‘pool vehicles’ allocated to the prime minister and her deputy, but said they will not be accessible for general use by other offices.
“They are pool cars, but due to security reasons, they will be allocated mostly to the two offices [of prime minister and deputy prime minister],” he told Namibian Sun.
The two vehicles are understood to have cost N$2 million each.
Leader of the opposition in parliament, McHenry Venaani, criticised the purchase on X, saying: “Leaders must not fool society [with] being concerned [about] poverty and have no limits at expenditure”.
He added that government has a policy on driving second-hand vehicles, which must be explored in situations like this.
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