• National Council excluded from N$2,2b estimate
• N$300m already paid in professional fees
• Excavation alone to cost N$80m
• President kept in the dark over real cost
By Confidente Reporters
INVESTIGATIONS into the real cost of the new Parliament building have revealed that the N$2.2 billion could escalate to N$4 billion as the current costing excludes the National Council.
Confidente’s investigations further revealed that the N$2.2 billion could be escalated by another N$80 million to develop the “rocky” site that is preferred to put up the ambitious parliamentary building.
It has also emerged that the architects have already pocketed N$300 million in professional fees and thus a meeting by the National Council Standing Rules and Orders Committee comprising of Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, National Council Chairperson Margaret Mensah-Williams, Attorney General Sacky Shanghala, architect Jan Spruyt and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Ben Booysen representing the Ministry of Works and Transport decided to halt the project.
Speaking on behalf of the Works Ministry, Booysen confirmed that the N$2, 2 billion only makes provision for the National Assembly and that the cost could go up if the National Council is to be included.
“The N$2,2 billion figure does not include the National Council and only caters for the National Assembly. Figures of the National Council will be determined at a later stage after a letter from the National Council as the client in this project gave instructions for the project’s suspension,” Booysen said.
Booysen explained that because the National Council is a quarter in size of the National Assembly, its inclusion might cost an additional N$550 million. “This is just in pro rata, it’s not the definite figure.”
Asked to clarify whether the N$2,2 billion covers the National Council as well, architect Spruyt declined to comment saying the matter is confidential.
“Sorry I’m not allowed to speak about that. It is a confidential matter,” Spruyt said. Shanghala distanced himself from the matter saying he is not involved. “Sorry, I think you are misdirecting your queries. I am not the leader of Government Business in the Parliament, nor am I the leader of the National Assembly or National Council. I am the Attorney-General for the time being,” Shanghala said.
Other officials from the Works Ministry who spoke on condition of anonymity who attended the consultative meeting, said during the caucus it also emerged that there was concern on the four different plans presented whose costs have already escalated.
“During the meeting members of the National Council felt that the building of the new Parliament should be a long term project in phases as it was done with the master plan of the University of Namibia main campus which is still under construction. At the meeting last week, Confidente has learnt the National Council has instructed the ministry and architects to halt all work on the project until the political leadership has come to a definite decision.”
The National Council also prefers that a joint chamber including offices for members of both houses be prioritized.
The majority of National Council members were of the opinion that the cost of the new Parliament was too exorbitant.
“The area identified to construct the new Parliament on is very rocky and therefore expensive to develop.”
When contacted for comment Tuesday, Mensah-Williams refused to comment on the matter saying a press conference will be held soon where latest information on the construction of the new Parliament will be disclosed.
“Everything will be indicated at a presser that will be held soon,” she said before she hung up.
Confidential sources close to the matter have also confirmed that the “main planners” behind the project have been hard at work to keep the real cost of the project under wraps and away from President Hage Geingob’s knowledge.
Asked whether the President was informed that the new building will only accommodate the National Assembly, presidential spokesperson Albertus Aochamub asked Confidente to send him an email.
“Please send an email with all the questions. And please note that all matters related to Parliament are now being handled by the committee set up by Cabinet last week to answer all questions related to the issue.”
Reminded about the email, he said “I am still referring you to the Cabinet committee.”
The construction of a new Parliament has been a thorny issue that has divided many people including lawmakers. Early this month the majority of National Council members spoken to were of the opinion that although there is need for a new Parliament building that can jointly accommodate them and their colleagues from the National Assembly the proposed multi-billion dollar new Parliament building was way too costly and it’s not among the country’s top priorities.
The National Council members told Confidente that for now as the country is faced with critical national problems that include dilapidated infrastructure at public hospitals, clinics, schools, acute shortage of decent housing and ablution facilities for the majority and a nail biting drought that has left many Namibians without access to food, resources should instead be channelled towards addressing these problems and they settle for a modest new Parliament building.
The lawmakers added that for the Harambee Prosperity Plan that is expected to fight and win the war on poverty in the country to work, the country’s leadership should prioritise the right projects to embark on.
On June 16 there is a planned demonstration in Windhoek being organised by the Affirmative Repositioning Movement to protest against the construction of the Parliament building while a majority of Namibians have no access to basic services like decent accommodation, schools and hospitals.