Sostenus Wilherm
The National Assembly has moved to clarify the security arrangements surrounding Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, saying police officers assigned to her are members of the Namibian Police Force and are neither recruited nor employed by the Speaker or parliament.
The clarification follows recent public claims concerning the security personnel assigned to the Speaker.
National Assembly senior public relations officer Sacky Kadhikwa said the deployment and operational control of the officers fall under the Namibian Police Force.
“The personnel concerned are members of the Namibian Police Force, not persons recruited or employed by the Speaker or the National Assembly. Under the Police Act, 1990, the command, deployment and operational control of police members rest with Nampol,” Kadhikwa said.
He said the deployment of police officers is determined by the competent police authorities according to security requirements.
Kadhikwa further said the officers’ salaries are paid through the police establishment and not from the National Assembly Vote.
“Where security personnel accompany the Speaker on official travel, any expenditure borne by the National Assembly must be authorised and processed in accordance with the State Finance Act, 1991, applicable treasury instructions and approved travel procedures of the National Assembly,” he said.
He added that such expenditure does not create an employment relationship between the security officers and parliament.
“The National Assembly remains committed to transparency and proper accountability in the use of public resources,” Kadhikwa said.
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