Health ministry employee fired over alleged N$30 embezzlement

Joseph Haingura, a former administrative officer at the Ministry of Health and Social Services stationed at Rundu Intermediate Hospital, has spent more than two years trying to reclaim his job after being dismissed for allegedly embezzling N$30.

Haingura insists the matter was mishandled and blown out of proportion.

The incident that led to his dismissal occurred on 13 January 2023 while he was working a night shift at the hospital reception. According to Haingura, after counting patient funds with a colleague at the end of his shift, he left early to take his child to school. Later, his colleague called him back, saying a duplicate receipt for N$30 was missing from a closed receipt book.

When he returned, Haingura claims he noticed that a colleague had allegedly attempted to insert an incorrect duplicate from an old coupon book to conceal the discrepancy.

“I refused to participate in this because it would have been fraud,” Haingura said. “These receipt numbers need to correlate. I could not be part of falsifying anything.”

Haingura says that after the matter was escalated to his superiors, a meeting was held and it was agreed that the issue would be dealt with internally, with no further action taken.

Dismissal and appeal

Despite this, Haingura was dismissed in July 2024, more than a year after the incident.

A dismissal letter dated 31 May 2024, seen by Namibian Sun, stated that the Public Service Commission had recommended his dismissal, which was approved by the Office of the Prime Minister.

The letter accused Haingura of “committing fraud and embezzling state money when he took N$30 paid by patients and replaced the duplicates using an old coupon book from December 2022.” It cited public service staff rules that classify embezzlement as a major offence, justifying termination during probation.

Haingura appealed the decision to the Public Service Commission, but the appeal was unsuccessful. He then took the matter to the Labour Court in May 2025.

Arbitration delays

According to Haingura, the arbitration process has been repeatedly delayed.

He claims government representatives failed to appear for scheduled hearings in May, June and November 2025, despite notices being properly served.

In a letter dated 23 October 2025, Haingura formally requested the recusal of the arbitrator, Aldrin Munembo, citing repeated postponements, procedural lapses and failures in handling witness summonses.

He attached supporting documents, including Form LC 42, and asked for the appointment of a new arbitrator to ensure the matter is resolved promptly and fairly.

As of March 2026, the case remains unresolved.

“This has been going on for four months since November,” Haingura told Namibian Sun. “The officials do not communicate properly. The chief human resources officer receives notices but does not respond, and I am left waiting for a new arbitrator to be appointed.”

Married with children, Haingura says his family now depends on his wife’s income from a small shop, which he says is insufficient to cover accommodation and food.

“Life has become very difficult,” he said. “I am frustrated seeing people who have mishandled my case and yet face no consequences.”