“I don’t feel guilty”, Shangula says he will still claim N$ 1350 grant

By Kaipaherue Kandjii

HEALTH minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula says he will unapologetically claim his monthly N$1 350 old age grant without feeling guilt.
The career medical doctor, who turned 78 on August 8, is one of many pensioners serving as Cabinet ministers and members of parliament.
President Hage Geingob appointed Shangula in December 2018 to replace Dr Bernard Haufiku in the health ministry.

Shangula, Tjekero Tweya, deputy minister of education Faustina Caley, gender equality minister Doreen Sioka and home affairs deputy minister Lucia Witbooi declared to parliament that they claim an N$1 350 pension grant.
“Look, I got my old age grant when I retired from public service. I was a senior citizen. By law, I must be 60 [years old age] and a Namibian [citizen to qualify for an old age grant].
“[Therefore] I applied based on those two issues [as required] by law, and it [my application] was approved. I received the pension before I became a minister,” said Shangula.

He says no single person in Namibia has been deprived of earning his share under him also making his old age grant.
“I have a strong legal and moral ground. Everyone who applies [for their old age pension] will get [his money]. I am not depriving anyone, and some people are business people richer than ministers who claim. What do you say about them?” he asked.
Caley, a former regional director of education in the Otjozondjupa region, said she would relinquish her claim, saying, albeit little, it can be used to improve other people’s livelihoods.
Caley turns 66 on November 17.

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