Finance ministry appoints team to probe NUST

The finance ministry’s procurement unit has appointed a team to assess allegations relating to the appointment of members to serve on the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s (NUST) new procurement committee.

This comes after a group of NUST employees wrote to the ministry alleging that the university’s vice chancellor, Dr Erold Naomab, hand-picked his cronies to serve on the committee.

Naomab, whose special adviser Klemens Awarab also forms part of the proposed committee, recently submitted the names of the people identified to serve on the university’s procurement committee to the ministry for approval.

Reject nominations

The letter, dated 3 July, was addressed to the finance ministry’s head of the Procurement Policy Unit, Francois Brand.

"We have come to learn that the vice chancellor submitted names of a new internal procurement committee of the university to your office for endorsement. We wish to bring it under your attention that this is an opportunity for the VC to further loot the scarce resources of the university," reads a part of the letter.

They added: "We wish to object to the composition of the committee as presented to your office and request that your office reject the composition. All the people mentioned are his [Naomab]. There are other competent and independent people who have the best interests of our university at heart.”

Allegations noted

Brand yesterday confirmed receipt of the letter that has raised alarm bells over the alleged interference of Naomab in the institution’s procurement processes.

"Yes, I can acknowledge we did receive the letter. We have engaged to look at the matter, and two different directorates have been appointed to look into two different aspects regarding the claims. One is the issue of internal structures, and the second is the issue of procurement,” he said.

"We are first looking at the information before we will determine whether to launch an informal investigation. We have to see if we need more information; it is still early days, and we have also not yet engaged the university leadership," said Brand.

Problems outlined

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) head Paulus Noa, minister of higher education Itah Kandji-Murangi, finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi, and Namibia Central Procurement Board Amos Ngavetene were also copied in the letter.

The finance ministry’s decision to look into the NUST matter comes at a time when the ACC is piling pressure on NUST to probe allegations levelled against Naomab of maladministration, corruption, mismanagement and nepotism.

The workers also flagged the nomination of a new member of the procurement committee who is currently on sabbatical leave for one year, claiming that said individual has also allegedly been elected under questionable circumstances to serve on the NUST senate and council.

Risks

A list of names seen by Namibian Sun indicates that Naomab selected Meriam Dikuua, Awarab, and Browny Mutrifa, among others.

The plan to include Dikuua in the committee has also not been well received due to her position as deputy vice-chancellor of administration and finance at the institution.

"It should also be noted that, in terms of her position, Dikuua reports on financial issues to the VC. It will thus be interesting how the chairperson of procurement is also the one signing the submission to the vice-chancellor. Though Ms Dikuua is principled, we feel that the intention of the vice-chancellor is for her to be compromised and replaced with the actual chairperson, Mr. Awarab," they claimed in the letter.

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