NIP hires entity owned by its chairperson

The Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) has confirmed entering into a business arrangement with a housing development company co-owned by its board chairperson, Ingah Ekandjo.The institute maintains that Ekandjo recused herself from all decision-making processes related to the deal.This confirmation follows a sharp critique from the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), whose general secretary Petrus Nevonga accused Ekandjo of leveraging her position at the state-owned enterprise for personal gain.Ekandjo serves as an executive director of 20Twenty Financial Solution (Pty) Ltd, a company currently offering financial services to NIP employees to assist them in acquiring affordable housing. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NIP and 20Twenty was signed in February this year.In a letter dated 8 April, Nevonga accused Ekandjo of acting corruptly to benefit herself. He further alleged that she colluded with NIP CEO Kapena Tjombonde and chief human capital officer (CHCO) Oaitse van Staden in what he described as a suspicious scheme. According to Napwu, its members at NIP are demanding the immediate resignation of all three officials.Tjombonde’s employment contract remains valid until February 2026.“She [Ekandjo] is corruptly using her position to benefit herself. A prime example is the agreement between 20Twenty Financial Solution (Pty) Ltd, where she is an executive director, and NIP – where she serves as board chairperson – signed on 20 February 2025,” Nevonga said. “The contract was signed by Tjombonde and witnessed by Van Staden. On behalf of 20Twenty, it was signed by CEO Gideon Cornelissen. There is a clear conflict of interest involving the NIP board chairperson and the CEO regarding the 20Twenty business transaction,” he added.Employee consent In response, NIP confirmed that Ekandjo holds shares in 20Twenty but insisted that she disclosed the potential conflict of interest and recused herself from all related matters.“[Ekandjo] has disclosed a perceived conflict of interest concerning her shareholding in 20Twenty and has recused herself from all associated discussions to preserve impartiality,” NIP told Namibian Sun.The institute also clarified that participation in the 20Twenty housing initiative is entirely voluntary.“No employee is required or coerced to participate in the 20Twenty scheme,” the statement read.“This set-up is similar to long-standing payroll deduction arrangements NIP has with various commercial banks for staff loans, including the union’s own check-off system for collecting membership dues," NIP added. “In essence, employees have always been free to authorise payroll deductions for financial obligations of their choice – whether for a bank loan, union fee, or now a 20Twenty home loan. The 20Twenty option is merely another alternative for those interested in innovative home financing. It operates under the same conditions as other deductions: with employee consent and at their request. Comparisons to coercive schemes are therefore unfounded, much like deductions for union dues,” the institute explained. Procurement concernsNevonga further alleged that trust in Ekandjo, Tjombonde and Van Staden among NIP employees has eroded, prompting demands for their resignation.“It is in this context that employees have lost trust in how the board chairperson, CEO and CHCO have been pursuing personal interests at the company’s expense,” Nevonga wrote.Nevonga also raised issues with the appointment of NPS Management Solution, the consultant engaged for NIP’s restructuring process. He alleged that the executive leadership team (ELT) appointed the consultant without adhering to procurement procedures, compromising the process’s independence and impartiality.“The exco violated the Procurement Act by hiring the consultant,” he alleged.He further claimed: “Most employees were not consulted about the restructuring. Information was withheld, and the process appears pre-determined, discriminatory, and targeted at specific staff.”In its defence, NIP maintained that the consultant was appointed in accordance with the Procurement Act of 2015 and was initially engaged for shift system implementation.“The current organisational structure is outdated and no longer aligns with our operational needs,” the statement read.“Given the link between the shift system and structural realignment, NIP procured additional services from the consultant through standard procurement processes.“The aim of the structural realignment is to ensure alignment with the institute’s strategic direction and to optimise resources for achieving business objectives beyond the current strategic cycle.”

NIP hires entity owned by its chairperson

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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NIP hires entity owned by its chairperson

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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