Govt to spend N$364m on S&Ts

By Eliaser Ndeyanale
DESPITE announcing a raft of cost-cutting measures, gov­ernment has budgeted N$364 million for subsistence and travelling (S&T) allowances during the 2017/18 financial year, a whopping of N$94 million increase from the 2016/17 fig­ure of N$270 million.
The budgeted N$364 million will cater for both technocrats and politi­cians, and was announced as part of the country’s national budget, despite government’s radical fiscal consolida­tion drive, with which it hopes to save around N$4 billion.
Deputy Finance Minister, Natangwe Ithete, confirmed to Confidente that treasury had last year released N$270 million for S&Ts allowances, for use by all government institutions, and that this year it had budgeted N$364 million.
He, however, stressed that the min­istry will put measures in place to curb S&T spending, before adding it had saved millions in the previous finan­cial year.
“We continue to curtail excessive government spending on S&Ts,” he said.
Budget documents tabled by Fi­nance Minister, Calle Schlettwein, in parliament last month indicate that more than N$10 million has also been set aside for entertainment and refreshments, across all 35 ministries, offices and agencies.
The Office of President has an allo­cation of N$592 000 for entertaining visiting politicians and N$4 million for official entertainment and corporate gifts, while it is expected to spend close to N$36 million on S&T allowances.
Founding President Sam Nujoma’s office has an allocation of N$3.4 mil­lion and N$104 000 for entertaining politicians and office refreshments, respectively.
Vice President Nickey Iyambo’s of­fice will be allocated N$1.1 million for S&T allowances and N$263 000 for entertainment and office refresh­ments.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongel­wa-Amadhila office has been allocated N$14.8 million for S&Ts, while N$2.8 million will go towards entertainment and office refreshments.
The National Assembly has been allocated a total of N$10.2 million for S&T allowances, and also has anen­tertainment or refreshments budget of N$729 500, while the National Coun­cil has been allocated N$43 million for S&Ts and N$325 000 for entertain­ment and office refreshments.
The budget documents show that the International and Relations and Cooperation Ministry, under the leadership of Netumbo Nandi-Ndait­wah, who is also the country’s Depu­ty Prime Minister, has been allocated N$20 million for S&T allowances.
The Office of Attorney-General’s has been allocated N$13 million for S&T allowances and N$60 000 for en­tertainment and office refreshments.
The Ministry of Safety and Security has received N$16.8 million for S&T allowances, while the Education, Arts and Culture Ministry has been allocat­ed N$10 million, and the Justice Min­istry N$13.8 million.
In addition, the Gender Equali­ty and Child Welfare Ministry has received N$12 million for S&T al­lowances and N$454 000 for refresh­ments, while the Ministry of Trade, In­dustrialisation and SME Development has been allocated N$19 million for S&T allowances.
The Environment and Tourism Ministry is set to spend N$20.2 mil­lion on S&T allowances and N$3 mil­lion for office refreshments in 2017/18, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Wa­ter and Forestry has received a budget of N$44 million for S&Ts and N$354 000 for refreshments.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has been allocated N$21 million for S&Ts, as well as N$3.7 mil­lion for entertainment.
Urban and Rural Development Minister, Sophia Shaningwa, said in the National Assembly last week that the money budgeted for refreshments is not for her office alone, but will be shared with regional councils and local authorities. According to the budget documents, the Office of the Judiciary has received N$19.8 million for S&T allowances, while the Ministry of Fi­nance was allocated N$5.3 million for S&Ts and N$3 million for entertain­ment and office refreshments.
The Electoral Commission of Na­mibia (ECN) was allocated N$3 mil­lion for S&T allowances and N$77 000 for entertainment, while the An­ti-Corruption Commission received N$4.2 million for S&Ts and N$708 000 for entertainment.The Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation has received N$12 million for S&Ts and the Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Ministry has a budget of N$3.5 million for S&Ts and N$385 000 for entertainment. The De­partment of Veteran Affairs has not budgeted anything for entertainment. However, it is expected to spend N$3 million on S&T allowances. The Min­istry of Health and Social Services has been allocated N$20 million for S&Ts and N$104 000 for entertainment.