Geingob signs-off more perks for Venaani

Geingob signs-off more perks for Venaani JEMIMA BEUKES

Windhoek



President Hage Geingob last month signed-off additional perks for the leader of the official opposition McHenry Venaani, who will now be entitled to a taxpayer-funded car, bodyguard, personal assistant and a driver.

Venaani will also be accorded an office at the National Assembly.

This information is contained in a government gazette dated 4 March 2021 signed off by Geingob.

His current perks include water and electricity (N$48 240), transport (N$94 400), housing (N$159 222) and telephone(N$864) allowances.

As a public office bearer Venaani is entitled to two vehicles, a sedan and an off-road one.

The monthly fuel usage is capped at 1080 litres for both cars. This is about N$14 000 worth of fuel monthly.

Currently, his annual basic salary stands at N$693 240, which increases to N$996 006 when perks are added.

Venaani has in the past blasted government for its lavish spending and called for more prudent spending of the country's financial resources.

In 2019, Venaani spoke out strongly against the allocation of vehicles to ministers, he singled out Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila's motorcade which he said should be trimmed from three to two vehicles.

At the time, he said it is a shame that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila's motorcade is more expensive and bigger than those of world leaders Angela Merkel and Theresa May.

“Why must she have three Mercedes-Benzes?” he asked.

Venaani is on record saying official motorcades should consist of only one armoured Mercedes-Benz and the rest should be Toyota Corolla sedans.

Efforts to get hold of Venaani proved futile.

jemima@namibiansun.com

.jemima@namibiansun.com