Fired Nakashole not off the hook yet
Former Nored chief executive Fillemon Nakashole is likely to face additional conseqences after being fired this month, having spent more than a year on full pay.
Nored board chair Johannes Uushini told Namibian Sun last week that while Nakashole’s dismissal ends his tenure at the utility, it does not absolve him of responsibility for the operational and financial lapses that reportedly occurred under his watch.
Nakashole’s ousting followed a marathon internal disciplinary hearing that lasted over a year. Uushini said the company adheres strictly to its confidentiality policy and was therefore unable to comment in detail on the report.
“I cannot say much on this matter, as it was an internal process," he explained on Wednesday.
He noted that the disciplinary process was lengthy but has now been concluded, with the next steps yet to be determined.
"There will be repercussions. Unless it will go to court. It remains a process. The charges are linked to issues of not complying with procedures,” Uushini remarked.
The board found Nakashole’s tenure was marked by failures to follow due process, leaving the country’s largest regional electricity distributor in a precarious state.
Ongoing scrutiny
Nakashole was fired, effective 1 December, and the decision was officially communicated to staff by acting CEO Mirjam Kondjeni.
His contract was due to end on 16 December. Uushini explained that because Nakashole was fired before his contract expired, further action will be taken against him as outlined in the disciplinary committee’s report.
The move ends a period of administrative limbo that began in April 2024, when Nakashole was suspended on full pay.
He is permitted to appeal the findings. Attempts to obtain comment from Nakashole were unsuccessful by the time of going to print.
Questions arise
The prolonged delay in concluding the case had become a matter of national concern.
In August, Moses Pakote, executive director at the industries, mines and energy ministry, formally asked the Nored board why the matter had remained unresolved for 15 months.
While the board has remained tight-lipped about the specific charges, Uushini’s recent comments emphasise that the “consequences” Nakashole faces are linked to an alleged pattern of bypassing corporate governance and internal controls.
Nakashole was not the only senior staff member in the crosshairs.
He was originally suspended alongside two other high-ranking employees: former chief financial officer Ndapandula Tshitayi, who is no longer with the company, and Petnen Frans, the executive manager for technical services.
Frans was later cleared and returned to work.
The leadership vacuum coincided with a period of severe financial strain for the utility. Internal reports from May last year indicate that Nored was pushed to the brink by a reliance on low-quality vehicle parts from unverified vendors, which drained maintenance budgets.
In late 2023, the board sanctioned a N$4 million bank facility solely to cover salaries. In January, executives were forced to raise N$8.9 million within 72 hours to prevent NamPower from disconnecting the utility’s account.
[email protected]
Nored board chair Johannes Uushini told Namibian Sun last week that while Nakashole’s dismissal ends his tenure at the utility, it does not absolve him of responsibility for the operational and financial lapses that reportedly occurred under his watch.
Nakashole’s ousting followed a marathon internal disciplinary hearing that lasted over a year. Uushini said the company adheres strictly to its confidentiality policy and was therefore unable to comment in detail on the report.
“I cannot say much on this matter, as it was an internal process," he explained on Wednesday.
He noted that the disciplinary process was lengthy but has now been concluded, with the next steps yet to be determined.
"There will be repercussions. Unless it will go to court. It remains a process. The charges are linked to issues of not complying with procedures,” Uushini remarked.
The board found Nakashole’s tenure was marked by failures to follow due process, leaving the country’s largest regional electricity distributor in a precarious state.
Ongoing scrutiny
Nakashole was fired, effective 1 December, and the decision was officially communicated to staff by acting CEO Mirjam Kondjeni.
His contract was due to end on 16 December. Uushini explained that because Nakashole was fired before his contract expired, further action will be taken against him as outlined in the disciplinary committee’s report.
The move ends a period of administrative limbo that began in April 2024, when Nakashole was suspended on full pay.
He is permitted to appeal the findings. Attempts to obtain comment from Nakashole were unsuccessful by the time of going to print.
Questions arise
The prolonged delay in concluding the case had become a matter of national concern.
In August, Moses Pakote, executive director at the industries, mines and energy ministry, formally asked the Nored board why the matter had remained unresolved for 15 months.
While the board has remained tight-lipped about the specific charges, Uushini’s recent comments emphasise that the “consequences” Nakashole faces are linked to an alleged pattern of bypassing corporate governance and internal controls.
Nakashole was not the only senior staff member in the crosshairs.
He was originally suspended alongside two other high-ranking employees: former chief financial officer Ndapandula Tshitayi, who is no longer with the company, and Petnen Frans, the executive manager for technical services.
Frans was later cleared and returned to work.
The leadership vacuum coincided with a period of severe financial strain for the utility. Internal reports from May last year indicate that Nored was pushed to the brink by a reliance on low-quality vehicle parts from unverified vendors, which drained maintenance budgets.
In late 2023, the board sanctioned a N$4 million bank facility solely to cover salaries. In January, executives were forced to raise N$8.9 million within 72 hours to prevent NamPower from disconnecting the utility’s account.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article