Mines and energy staff owe N$515 000

The industries, mines and energy ministry failed to settle more than N$31 million in outstanding commitments and had six staff members who owed the government a combined N$515 239.41, according to auditor general Junias Kandjeke’s audit for the financial year ended 31 March 2025.Tabled in parliament earlier this month, the audit found that the ministry returned N$10 million to Treasury, which Kandjeke said could have been used to settle part of the outstanding commitments.Kandjeke issued a qualified audit opinion.The N$31 million in outstanding commitments was the audit’s most significant finding.The ministry recorded N$10.15 million as underexpenditure, representing 2.41% of its annual budget.Kandjeke said the money “could have been used for another pressing national priority”.The audit found that the ministry's accounting officer reported that no vehicles were acquired.However, auditors found N$93 920.38 in vehicle expenditure recorded in the general ledger.Kandjeke also found that debt totalling N$515 239.41 owed to government by six staff members remained unrecovered during the year.The outstanding balances at 31 March 2025 included leave gratuity, salary advances and other staff-related debts.Kandjeke warned that recovery could be complicated because some of the indebted staff members were no longer in government service.Although management indicated in its response to the audit that some amounts had been recovered, Kandjeke said no supporting documentation or proof of recovery was provided for audit verification.The ministry also reported that recovery efforts had been initiated.However, Kandjeke said the ministry had submitted no responses from those parties or details of the outcomes to auditors.Accounting discrepanciesKandjeke drew attention to several other financial management weaknesses.The audit found that 26 immovable assets were reported at an undetermined value as at 31 March 2025. The ministry indicated that these assets had not been valued or recorded in the government asset register maintained by the works and transport ministry.Kandjeke also found differences between Treasury-approved virements and those processed in the appropriation account for four main divisions, resulting in inconsistencies in accounting records and misstatements of the financial statements.Another concern was N$347 123.62 in outstanding subsistence advances, while the S&amp;T advance suspense account showed a credit balance of N$63 877.60, leaving an unexplained difference of N$283 246.02.The rejection account also carried a credit balance of N$161 375.49, despite the account being expected to have a debit balance.

Mines and energy staff owe N$515 000

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-19

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Mines and energy staff owe N$515 000

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-19

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