False registration claims rock engineering council
The registrar of the Engineering Council of Namibia (ECN), Charles Mukwaso, is being accused of fraudulently registering himself as a professional engineer without the vetting of the council.
This follows a letter of suspension addressed to Mukwaso from the council president, Sophia Teckie, in which he was accused of misconduct.
“Council, in an extraordinary meeting held on 31 May, duly resolved to temporarily suspend the registrar, engineer Charles Mukwaso, with full pay pending an investigation into various alleged misconduct,” Tekie wrote in the letter dated 23 June.
Mukwaso denied the allegations and said two letters that were written to announce his new designation as a professional engineer were fraudulent and not written by him.
“I am the registrar of the ECN, overseeing all operations, and I have been able to identify the two letters as fake and fraudulent. Both letters bear the letterhead that was phased out in 2019. Both letters are not stamped – they do not bear the official stamp of the engineering council,” Mukwaso said in a police statement.
Character assassination
He further accused Tekie of withholding the alleged charges from him.
“Ms Tekie has over the past weeks been pushing that I be suspended from work because I allegedly committed misconduct. But she has adamantly refused to reveal what that conduct was. I declare that the letters are fraudulent; they are forged.
“I have reason to believe that this was character assassination and malicious conduct against me by Ms Sophia Tekie,” he said.
‘Exceptional voice’
Meanwhile, the Namibian Society of Engineers has condemned Mukwaso’s suspension from the council.
“Mr Mukwaso has been an exceptional voice for the engineering profession in Namibia, demonstrating unwavering commitment and selflessness in his service to other engineers in the country.
"This includes his innovative and transformational achievements at ECN even amidst challenging conditions, limited resources, and inadequate support,” the society said.
This follows a letter of suspension addressed to Mukwaso from the council president, Sophia Teckie, in which he was accused of misconduct.
“Council, in an extraordinary meeting held on 31 May, duly resolved to temporarily suspend the registrar, engineer Charles Mukwaso, with full pay pending an investigation into various alleged misconduct,” Tekie wrote in the letter dated 23 June.
Mukwaso denied the allegations and said two letters that were written to announce his new designation as a professional engineer were fraudulent and not written by him.
“I am the registrar of the ECN, overseeing all operations, and I have been able to identify the two letters as fake and fraudulent. Both letters bear the letterhead that was phased out in 2019. Both letters are not stamped – they do not bear the official stamp of the engineering council,” Mukwaso said in a police statement.
Character assassination
He further accused Tekie of withholding the alleged charges from him.
“Ms Tekie has over the past weeks been pushing that I be suspended from work because I allegedly committed misconduct. But she has adamantly refused to reveal what that conduct was. I declare that the letters are fraudulent; they are forged.
“I have reason to believe that this was character assassination and malicious conduct against me by Ms Sophia Tekie,” he said.
‘Exceptional voice’
Meanwhile, the Namibian Society of Engineers has condemned Mukwaso’s suspension from the council.
“Mr Mukwaso has been an exceptional voice for the engineering profession in Namibia, demonstrating unwavering commitment and selflessness in his service to other engineers in the country.
"This includes his innovative and transformational achievements at ECN even amidst challenging conditions, limited resources, and inadequate support,” the society said.
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