Windhoek — The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, has dismissed media reports that the new State House has cost the taxpayers over N$800 million, noting that the final cost of the project will only be known when all issues pertaining to the project have been sorted out.

Kawana made the statement on Tuesday when he motivated the vote of the Office of the President in the National Assembly.

The Presidential Affairs Minister said the State House project is a transparent project and the Government has nothing to hide regarding the matter.

He said the total cost would only be known after the expropriation of certain private properties and the finalisation of negotiations regarding municipal land on which the State House is located.

"We will inform the nation about the total cost once outstanding issues have been sorted out. What I can, however, inform the nation at the moment is that the Government has thus far spent N$383311800."

He noted that N$95438 million is provided in the new budget to complete the construction of the State House.

He said the figure is to cover landscaping, furniture and equipment at the residence, water purification, retention fees, and possible purchase of land and occupational rent for 18 undeveloped plots.

Motivating the vote, Kawana said the funds allocated for the Office of the President would enable the office to carry out the onerous duties and activities of that high office as stipulated in the Namibian Constitution.

"In order to carry out such responsibilities within the letter and spirit of the Namibian Constitution, the Office of the President requires a reasonably funded and well-equipped support infrastructure."

He explained that Vote One has five specific programmes, namely protection and defence of the Namibian Constitution; delivery of service; intelligence; Office of the Founding President and Cabinet Secretariat.

Kawana revealed that N$14811 million has been provided for public service delivery. He said the overall objective of the programme is to improve public service delivery, regularly review policies and promote national unity and harmony in the country.

The vote allocated N$79753 million to the Namibia Central Intelligence Agency. Kawana said the main function of the service is to defend the territorial integrity and independence of Namibia.

He noted that to this end, effective gathering of intelligence is vital in order to thwart threats to Namibia's constitutional and democratic order.

Kawana said the service shares the gathered intelligence information with law enforcement agencies in order to prevent and combat criminal activities.

He said in broader terms, the service contributes to the enjoyment of life by the Namibian people in a safe and secure environment, where they can pursue their activities without threat of violence and crime.

The vote further allocates N$20775 million to the Office of the Founding President and included in the amount is N$15500 million which will be used for the construction of the Office of the Founding President.

Kawana said the main purpose of the funding is to ensure that the Office of the Founding President is properly maintained and that efficient services are provided to the Founding President.

He said the Founding President performs ceremonial functions as per invitation from the public and the private sectors.

The Founding President also attends official functions inside and outside Namibia.

The vote also allocated N$8211 million to the Cabinet Secretariat. This programme performs constitutional functions assigned to it by the President or Cabinet.

Kawana noted that the Secretariat serves as the depository of the records, minutes and related documents of the Cabinet.

In total State House was allocated N$253428 million - N$116 028 is for the operational budget, while N$137400 million is for the development budget.