National Assembly clarifies speaker’s security costs
The Namibian National Assembly has clarified that security personnel assigned to the Speaker are police officers under the command of the police force, not employees of the parliament. This statement addresses public scrutiny regarding the use of public funds for the Speaker's security.
Why it matters
It addresses concerns regarding transparency and the potential misuse of public resources by high-ranking government officials.
The National Assembly has clarified the security arrangements surrounding its speaker, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, saying police officers assigned to protect her are not employed by the parliament or speaker.
The clarification comes after claims from Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda about security personnel assigned to the speaker.
In a statement issued on Thursday, National Assembly spokesperson Sacky Kadhikwa said the personnel are members of the police whose command, deployment and operational control remain with the police under the Police Act of 1990.
Their deployment is therefore determined by competent police authorities based on security requirements, Kadhikwa said.
“The personnel concerned are members of the police, not persons recruited or employed by the speaker or the National Assembly,” he stated.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in