Namibia’s Presidency Says Business Delegation to China Was Not Funded by Public Money

The Namibian Presidency has moved to address public scrutiny over the cost of a business delegation accompanying President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to China, confirming that the trip was not financed by public funds. According to a statement from the Presidency, the more than 200 businesspeople who travelled with the head of state covered their own expenses.

What the Presidency Said

The clarification came amid questions about who bears the cost of presidential trips abroad. The Presidency stated that the delegation, drawn from the private sector, self-funded its travel to accompany the President on the state visit.

Background

The visit reflects ongoing efforts by the Namibian government to strengthen commercial and diplomatic ties with China, one of Namibia’s major trading partners. By bringing a large private-sector delegation, the Presidency signalled that the trip was intended to open business opportunities rather than serve as a purely state-funded engagement.

Source: The Namibian / AllAfrica — read the original report.