Namibian president bans new cars for ministers to save money to fight virus

Namibian government on Thursday announced a five-year ban on buying new cars for senior politicians and government officials to help the country save cash to fight the novel coronavirus. President, Hage Geingob, has ordered vehicle fleet of government should not be renewed until 2025.

Namibian ministers and their deputies each qualify for Mercedes-Benz. However, in 2002, then-president Sam Nujoma reportedly banned the use of Mercedes-Benze, insisting that ministers should ride in Toyota Camry cars.

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Government will not order a new vehicle fleet for the Executive and Public Office Bearers for the period 2020-2025. Savings of 200 million N$ will be directed to urgent priority areas. Below is the statement issued by The Presidency to that effect: pic.twitter.com/6FLnAdf7xd

— Hage G. Geingob (@hagegeingob) May 14, 2020 statement, Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari said: “The president has directed that the vehicle fleet of the Namibian government will not be renewed for the period 2020-2025.”

“No new vehicles will be purchased for members of the executive and public office bearers in the Namibian government,” Hengari said. The president also directed a limit on monthly fuel consumption for top politicians.

According to the government, the measure would save some 200 million Namibian dollars (US$10.7 million), which will be directed “to urgent priorities, specifically at a time when the country is dealing with the health and economic implications of COVID-19”.

So far Namibia has 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases with no deaths and 12 recoveries.