Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Cabinet member and Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, has questioned the government’s decision to increase fuel prices to subsidise employers in the fuel sector to pay minimum wages to their employees.
Schlettwein, who is also a member of parliament, raised these concerns on his social media platforms on Monday.
This follows an announcement by the Ministry of Mines and Energy last Friday that fuel prices would increase for March, effective 5 March.
“Petrol and diesel prices are to be increased to fund road maintenance and minimum wages, we are told. The latter is a problem. Is it now the policy of the Ministry of Mines and Energy to subsidise employers in the fuel sector to pay minimum wages? Is it a policy that taxi drivers, workers, farmers, civil servants, etc., must contribute from their incomes (by paying more for fuel) to subsidies for employers in the fuel sector to pay minimum wages?” questioned Schlettwein.
The ministry announced a 50-cent per litre increase in the prices of petrol and both diesel variants (diesel 50 ppm and diesel 10 ppm).
At Walvis Bay, the new prices will be N$21.17 per litre for petrol, N$21.42 per litre for diesel 50 ppm, and N$21.52 per litre for diesel 10 ppm.
“Fuel prices in other regions of the country will be adjusted accordingly. The road user charge will increase by 20 cents per litre, bringing the new Road Fund Administration (RFA) levy to 243 cents per litre. The dealer’s margin for fuel retail operators or service stations will increase by 30 cents per litre,” said the ministry.
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge responded to Schlettwein’s post, asking whether he had raised these concerns in cabinet meetings.
“What was the response you got in your cabinet meeting, or did you never ask?” questioned Nashinge.
A member of the public also commented, stating that people voted for the ruling party to make contributions in cabinet meetings and parliament, not on social media.
To which Schlettwein replied, “Whom and for what you voted for is your business. I am free to comment on social media on topics that should concern everybody, and when I feel so, I shall continue to do so.”
