Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698750139058.pdf (Namibia)
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, IMMIGRATION, SAFETY AND SECURITY RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY THE MINISTER, HONOURABLE KAPOFI, MP 4th MARCH 2021 INTRODUCTION Honourable Speaker, I rise and take this opportunity to thank Honourable Vipuakuje Muharukua for the questions pertaining to matters about the Namibian Police Force's Anti-Poaching Unit deployed in the Etosha National Park.
At the centre of the Honourable Member's inquiry are matters related to the junior officers' living conditions and the senior staff members' Subsistence and Travel Allowance (S&T).

However, prior to focusing onto Honourable Muharukua's individual questions, I would like to give a brief distinction in the roles of the Gold Commander, Silver Commander and Bronze also known as Zone Commander.

This will assist as I clarify some of the Honourable Member's concerns.
A Gold Commander is responsible for operation, deployment, supervision, command and control in all National Parks, conservancies and concessions in the whole country.

On the other hand, the Silver Commander is responsible for the supervision, command and control of all members deployed in a park, in this case, the Etosha National Park.

The Silver Commander ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of the operation.
And lastly, the Bronze/Zone Commanders are responsible for the supervision of members at patrol posts.

1.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1 Honourable Muharukua, as per the role I just described above, Gold Commanders in operations of this nature receive a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate one (1).

Unlike their subordinates in these anti-poaching operations, Gold Commanders are not stationed in the parks; they travel around executing their overseer duties.
Therefore, this DSA rate enables them to find and pay for accommodation, food and incidental expenses wherever they go.

2 The Silver Commanders in the anti-poaching operations receive DSA rate two (2).

This means they are not catered with food but are provided with accommodation.

The Zone Commanders on the other hand receive DSA rate three (3) and are catered with camping equipment as well as food.

In the main, the nature of the operation and deployment determines the DSA rate an officer is entitled to.
2.

ANSWER TO QUESTION2 As alluded to in my response to the first question, only Zone Commanders are catered with food and camping equipment.

They are not accommodated in lodges, hotels or houses belonging to the Environment, Forestry and Tourism Ministry.

This is because they are responsible for the day to day supervision of members at patrol posts.

Similarly, due to the scope of their responsibilities as described in my introduction, Silver Commanders are allocated a house in the park.
Gold Commanders are not accommodated in lodges, hotels or houses belonging to the Environment, Forestry and Tourism Ministry, they pay for their own accommodation.

With respect to transport, this is allocated to Gold and Silver Commanders.

Once again Honourable Member, the nature of operation and deployment dictates the allocation of the DSA.
2.1 ANSWER TO QUESTION2.1 My answer to question two (2) was that it is not correct that all the respective categories of commanders are accommodated in lodges, hotels or houses belonging to the Environment, Forestry and Tourism Ministry.

Therefore, it is absolutely incorrect to suggest that there is corruption at play in this operation.

3 2.2 ANSWER TO QUESTION 2.2 As you may have noted from the answers I provided above Honourable Member, the information at your disposal is unequivocally incorrect.
3.1 ANSWER TO QUESTION 3.1 Honourable Members, tents in the parks are always replaced in a short period of time due to the nature of those terrains.

Therefore, it is not correct that there are officers in 2021, accommodated in tents that were provided in 2014.

The latest supply of tents to officers in the Etosha National Park occurred recently during the COVID-Pandemic.

Additionally, the tents used by the Namibian Police Force for its members are not procured from any Chinese shops.
Should there be any member sleeping in a plastic like tent, they could have bought it themselves.

3.2 ANSWER TO QUESTION 3.2 Yes, the officers do not receive danger or bush allowance.

They are rather deployed temporarily on a six (6) months rotational basis, catered with DSA rate three (3), which entails that they are provided with food and camping equipment.
3.3 ANSWER TO QUESTION 3.3 Our officers deployed in the Etosha National park are accommodated in camps with shelters and shade, equipped with water tanks and fenced off with animal proof fences in which their tents are pitched.

They are issued with service firearms, and other operational equipment including torches which enable them to carry out their functions at night when necessary.

4 4.
4 4.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 4 Although I already explained, albeit briefly, the issue of DSA rates particularly in operations of this sort, allow me Honourable Members to expound on the matter a little bit more.

In anti-poaching operations, officers are arrayed in national parks where there are no choices in terms of accommodation and food; they are instead provided survival kits.
Because of these provisions, they automatically qualify for DSA rate three (3) as per the Public Service Staff Rule D. III which deals with Compensatory Allowances.

Equally, if Gold Commanders, for example, were to be deployed on an operation where they would be provided with camping equipment and food, they too would automatically be allocated DSA rate three (3).
In a nutshell, the allocation of DSAs is not determined according to the seniority or juniority of officers, neither is it determined based on the mood of the assigning officer, it is dictated by the nature of operation and deployment.

5.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 5 Honourable Members, the food catering choice is based on the replenishment suitability.

In order to keep members fed, various factors are considered, mainly the operational condition, sustainability and self-reliance in terms of meals preparation.
The options available in food choices are limited, but the best option is considered.

5.1 ANSWER TO QUESTION 5.1 As I have already stated, officers in this anti-poaching operation do not receive rate one (l) due to the nature of their deployment.

It is therefore incorrect to suggest that they have forfeited this particular rate.

5 Yes, officers receive dry rations which include maize meal, baking flour and many other items which are sufficient for them in the field.
5.2 ANSWER TO QUESTION5.2 Yes, there is no provision for special dietary needs in this operation.

Officers with health conditions and special needs are not deployed in such operations.

6.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 6 Finally Honourable Member, the information at your disposal is not correct.

Therefore, the claim that "there exists prima-facie evidence that the budgetary allocations to the security cluster is for the benefits of the alleged top guns" is hereby totally repudiated.
Honourable Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank the house for listening, and once again thank Honourable Muharukua for the questions.

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