Allexer Namundjembo
Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has questioned the government’s failure to improve civil servants’ working and living conditions, despite the recent launch of a pension-backed housing scheme.
His comments come as many low-level public workers continue to struggle with poor salaries and limited access to housing.
In a social media post, Amupanda criticised the government’s slogan, “We are too few to be poor,” calling it misleading.
“If three million people are few, how about the 120,000 government employees? Why is their employment condition still poor? From salaries, professional development, incentives and opportunities, government employees are left behind,: he said.
Amupanda said many lower-level public workers, including cleaners and clerks, cannot afford to buy their homes.
He compared Namibia’s situation to Botswana, where, he said, a special housing scheme exists for lower-tier employees.
“In Botswana, they have a special housing scheme for these lower-level employees. We have nothing similar. They are left on their own,” he said.
He suggested a collective form of protest by civil servants, proposing that all public workers stay home “sick” for a day to show their value to the state.
“Perhaps we need to find a day where everyone stays home ‘sick’ so that only ministers and executive directors report for duty, even those at State House. We are tired of slogans. Over to you, sloganeering government,” he wrote.
His remarks follow the recent approval of a Pension-Backed Home Loan (PBHL) scheme for civil servants by finance minister Ericah Shafudah.
The scheme allows Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) members to use up to one-third of their pension savings as collateral for home loans.
Loans under the scheme will carry interest rates capped at the Bank of Namibia’s repo rate plus 2.5%.
GIPF has set aside N$900 million for the scheme.
The loans will be managed and disbursed by licensed financial intermediaries, including First Capital and Kuleni Financial Services. Borrowers can use the loans to buy land, build homes, renovate, or service plots for future development.
While welcomed by some, critics say the scheme overlooks key issues affecting civil servants, especially those nearing retirement or earning low wages.
They argue that older employees may not benefit, as using their pension savings now could shrink their retirement payouts.
Amupanda’s comments reflect this frustration.
“As it stands, no matter what we do, low-level government employees will continue to struggle with basic needs like housing,” he said.
He also pointed to housing efforts in other African countries.
In Botswana, the Public Officers Housing Initiative (POHI) supports lower-level public workers with subsidised housing loans.
In South Africa, civil servants access the Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS), which provides financial advice and affordable housing loans.
Rwanda has partnered with the Rwanda Housing Authority and the Development Bank of Rwanda to offer affordable housing through low-interest loans, rent-to-own schemes, and cooperatives for civil servants and middle-income earners.
Amupanda said Namibia needs similar reforms to match these efforts and ensure public servants are not left behind.
