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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 28169, member: 2262"] Starting April 1, 2025, civil servants traveling across Namibia will receive higher daily payments. The highest official, Cabinet Secretary, jumps from N$969 to N$2,500 per day. Executive directors boost their pay from N$899 to N$2,300 daily. Regular government workers earn N$1,780 for the same trips. I-Ben Nashandi from the Prime Minister's Office shared these updates Monday. The office plans to send complete details shortly through official channels. These travel benefits stayed the same since 2008. Officials also plan changes to maternity benefits for government staff. The new rates split the amounts between different ranks. Executive directors, chiefs, and Electoral Commission heads receive N$2,300. Deputy executive directors collect N$2,100. Deputy directors and board chairs pocket N$2,000 when traveling for work. McHenry Venaani from the Popular Democratic Movement attacked these increases as badly timed. He pointed out that 25% of working Namibians live on just N$521 monthly, with 90% earning under N$5,000. He believes luxuries should not grow during hard times for citizens. The Namibian government set aside N$506 million this year for travel payments. Former president Hage Geingob once complained about staff fighting over trips because they viewed travel money as easy cash. Political expert Henning Melber thinks the timing seems terrible. He believes these increases send bad messages when many Namibians struggle with poverty, drought effects, and unemployment. He questions why officials don't improve social programs instead of padding travel budgets. Melber also worries that these bigger payments tempt officials to abuse the system. He sees this decision as going against election promises to create jobs and calls it another sign that Namibia helps rich people grow richer at the expense of those struggling. Public policy expert Marius Kudumo believes these changes show government leaders don't care about unemployed citizens. He mentions the backdrop of growing inequality and worse public services. Kudumo thinks the government should spend less during tough economic times. Education director Aletta Eises supports these increases as necessary improvements. She explains that travel money helps staff pay for hotels and meals during work trips. According to Eises, the previous rates created many problems, sometimes forcing staff to sleep in cars just to afford decent meals. Eises praises the Prime Minister's Office for making changes that help employees. She points out that bed and breakfast places cost much more than before. Mike Kavekotora from Rally for Democracy and Progress agrees these increases help government workers who often spend personal money on official trips. Kavekotora mentions seeing civil servants booking terrible hotels during official foreign trips because of limited funds. He supports the increases but warns officials must practice financial discipline with these new allowances. [/QUOTE]

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