The Cabinet has approved proposed amendments to the Electoral Act of 2014 to allow public servants to be eligible for political positions.

The amendment provides that public servants can take leave from their employment when they are nominated by their political parties to be members of the National Assembly. 

It further provides for such members who have reached 55 years of age on or before the date of the announcement of the election results to have the choice to resign from their employment or take early retirement. 

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, is to submit the amendment bill to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation for scrutiny before it is tabled in Parliament. 

The Cabinet resolutions were presented by the Deputy Minister of ICT, Modestus Amutse.