President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah last year announced that the old-age pension grant would be increased incrementally to N$3,000 per month, meaning the amount would rise in stages over a period of time rather than through a single immediate adjustment.

An incremental increase refers to a gradual step-by-step rise, where the benefit is adjusted upward in phases, depending on available resources and budgetary considerations, until the targeted figure is reached.

The current pension grant stands at N$1,700 per month.

Despite the President’s indication that the N$3,000 target would be achieved over time, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula has accused her of “breaking her promise".

In a recent address, Dr. Itula told supporters that pensioners were promised N$3,000 but continue to receive N$1,700. 

He described the N$1,300 gap as a broken commitment and questioned the government's spending priorities.

Itula argued that while the pension increase has been framed as unaffordable, allocations have been made in the national budget for other expenditures.

The IPC’s leader of the official opposition, Immanuel Nashinge, did not respond to questions from the national broadcaster seeking clarification on the party’s position.