N$3 000 pension proposal is ‘political opportunism’ - IPC
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s vow questioned
If elected as president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has committed to increasing the pension grant from N$1 600 to N$3 000.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) claims Swapo presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s proposal to increase the pension grant is “political opportunism” to garner votes in the November elections.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks at a public lecture in honour of late president Hage Geingob at Ongwediva last weekend, saying despite the economic contraction, she will commit to increasing the pension grant from N$1 600 to N$3 000 if elected as president.
“You will agree with me that it is not easy to double the old-age grant during a period of economic contraction. Yet President [Hage] Geingob did exactly that in 2016 when we doubled the old-age pension from N$600 to N$1 200,” she was quoted as saying in Informanté.
‘No genuine concern’
In a statement issued on Monday, IPC’s finance executive Frans Taapopi said “the proposal appears to be more about political opportunism than genuine concern for the elderly”.
It is a "manifestation of a failed Swapo administration", one which Nandi-Ndaitwah has been part of for the past 34 years, he added.
Taapopi said if Nandi-Ndaitwah truly believed in honouring the late president’s vision of increasing the pension grant, she had ample opportunity to advocate for it when it mattered. “[In the past], only members of the opposition protested in favour of the increase, leaving [Nandi-Ndaitwah] silent until now,” he noted.
‘Be factual and objective’
Taapopi further urged politicians to be factual and objective when informing the public about their election commitments, especially the elderly and unemployed youth. Despite being a welcome proposal for roughly 200 000 pensioners, he underscored the importance of scrutinising its feasibility.
He said Nandi-Ndaitwah should inform the electorate about the source of funding for the increment, as it would mean an escalation of the annual expenditure on pensions to approximately N$10.1 billion - a substantial rise from the current cost of N$4.8 billion.
According to Taapopi, Nandi-Ndaitwah is well aware of finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi’s declaration that such an increase was not feasible. Her sudden change of heart, coinciding with her candidacy in an election year, raises serious questions about her integrity and commitment to realistic governance, he pointed out.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks at a public lecture in honour of late president Hage Geingob at Ongwediva last weekend, saying despite the economic contraction, she will commit to increasing the pension grant from N$1 600 to N$3 000 if elected as president.
“You will agree with me that it is not easy to double the old-age grant during a period of economic contraction. Yet President [Hage] Geingob did exactly that in 2016 when we doubled the old-age pension from N$600 to N$1 200,” she was quoted as saying in Informanté.
‘No genuine concern’
In a statement issued on Monday, IPC’s finance executive Frans Taapopi said “the proposal appears to be more about political opportunism than genuine concern for the elderly”.
It is a "manifestation of a failed Swapo administration", one which Nandi-Ndaitwah has been part of for the past 34 years, he added.
Taapopi said if Nandi-Ndaitwah truly believed in honouring the late president’s vision of increasing the pension grant, she had ample opportunity to advocate for it when it mattered. “[In the past], only members of the opposition protested in favour of the increase, leaving [Nandi-Ndaitwah] silent until now,” he noted.
‘Be factual and objective’
Taapopi further urged politicians to be factual and objective when informing the public about their election commitments, especially the elderly and unemployed youth. Despite being a welcome proposal for roughly 200 000 pensioners, he underscored the importance of scrutinising its feasibility.
He said Nandi-Ndaitwah should inform the electorate about the source of funding for the increment, as it would mean an escalation of the annual expenditure on pensions to approximately N$10.1 billion - a substantial rise from the current cost of N$4.8 billion.
According to Taapopi, Nandi-Ndaitwah is well aware of finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi’s declaration that such an increase was not feasible. Her sudden change of heart, coinciding with her candidacy in an election year, raises serious questions about her integrity and commitment to realistic governance, he pointed out.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article