Opposition politicians expressed disappointment with the country’s more than N$60 billion budget announced yesterday by Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
The politicians were particularly saddened by the fact that the monthly N$600 State pension was not increased and that the defence ministry will be allocated over N$6.6 billion in comparison with the N$4.2 billion earmarked for the police.
Others said the money allocated to some budget votes was not enough.
Rally for Democracy and Progress Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Naholo said the budget was “the usual thing’.
“We always call for the increase in old-age pensions. We say our elders should get more but this did not happen. It is a great disappointment,” Naholo said.
DTA MP Katuutire Kaura said the allocation of N$6.6 billion to the defence vote is “wasteful”, as defence is not national priority at present.
“We have escalating crime, especially against women and the vulnerable,” said Kaura.
He suggested that the Ministry of Safety and Security – which was allocated slightly over N$4.2 billion, should have been awarded more to fight crime.
“We are not at war, we are a peaceful nation and we are at peace with our neighbours; we do not need to spend that much on defence.
“I am also disappointed by the fact that the old-age pension did not increase,” the former DTA president added.
The Nudo Chief Whip in the National Assembly; Arnold Tjihuiko, said nothing much has changed in this year’s budget as far as the allocations to different votes are concerned.
“This is your normal before-election budget,” Tjihuiko said after Kuugongelwa-Amadhila tabled the 2014/15 Appropriation Bill and the 2014/15 – 2016/17 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Tjihuiko joined Kaura in saying that he too was disappointed with the lack of an increase in pensions despite high expectations from the nation.
In her speech, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said pensions, which were increased in 2012 and 2013, will again be raised next year.
“In this budget we are providing resources to roll out the old-age grants to all qualifying beneficiaries,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
Tjihuiko hit back by saying: “You cannot deny people who fought immensely for the liberation of this country that benefit by saying you are only increasing the number of beneficiaries.”
He added that this does not make sense, especially after the Ministry of Trade and Industry expressed concern in the NA over the cost of living, especially food prices.
Congress of Democrats leader and MP Ben Ulenga described the budget as “a sugar-coated budget”.
“You cannot imagine the level of poverty out there, and to think that we’re going to reach everyone with these announced amounts is not realistic,” Ulenga said.
“It should not just be about money, but about proper administration of course, but the money (this time around) is simply not enough,” he said in reference to the N$13.1 billion earmarked for education.
“The impression is given that the amounts have been increased, and some areas, yes, got attention.
“Housing... it’s too early to say, but for the last couple of years there was no attention given there, so it remains to be seen if this will have any effect.”
WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA
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