STAFF WRITER
The Independent Patriots for Change has lashed out at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs for failing to account N$860,000 spent on subsistence and travel (S&T) allowances.
In a statement released on Wednesday the opposition party said the failure by the ministry to account for the funds raised serious concerns about financial accountability, transparency and the responsible management of public resources.
“While national defence remains a critical responsibility of the state, the protection of public funds must be equally prioritised. The Namibian people deserve to know how their taxes are spent, particularly by ministries receiving billions of dollars from the national budget,” Aloisius Kangulu IPC Shadow Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs said.
He said the defence sector requires adequate funding to fulfil its constitutional
mandate, maintain operational readiness, modernise military equipment and ensure that the Namibia Defence Force is sufficiently equipped to protect the country’s territorial integrity.
The opposition party said the need for adequate defence funding cannot become a justification for unexplained expenditure or weaknesses in financial oversight.
According to reports the Department of Defence spent approximately N$7.14 billion during the 2024/25 financial year, exceeding its approved budget of N6.88billionbyN252.9 million.
The IPC said although the department received an unqualified audit opinion, the reported unauthorised expenditure raises important questions about budgetary discipline and compliance with financial regulations.
“A clean audit opinion must never be interpreted as permission to overlook
unauthorised expenditure or unresolved questions about the use of public funds. Every public institution must demonstrate not only that its financial statements meet the applicable accounting requirements, but also that expenditure is properly authorised, adequately documented and directed towards its intended objectives,” Kangulu said.
IPC called on the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs to take their concerns seriously and provide a clear ministerial statement explaining the reported N$860,000 in S&T expenditure.
“The statement should clarify the purpose of the payments, the officials or personnel involved, the applicable authorisation procedures, the supporting
documentation available and whether any irregularities were identified.
“ Furthermore, the Minister should outline the corrective measures taken or planned to strengthen expenditure controls, improve record-keeping, address audit findings and prevent similar concerns from recurring. Where expenditure cannot be substantiated, appropriate investigations and accountability measures must follow in accordance with the law,” the party said.
They also called for stronger parliamentary oversight and timely implementation of the Auditor-General’s recommendations.
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