Otjiwarongo procurement scores a mere 52%

Over half of the Otjiwarongo municipality's procurement activities reviewed by finance ministry auditors did not follow its approved procurement plan.The public procurement compliance audit found that 15 of 29 activities (52%) in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years were not executed in line with the approved annual procurement plan (APP). Only 14 (48%) were aligned.Auditors classified the finding as critical, warning that procurement outside the APP could lead to unauthorised or unplanned buying, reduced accountability, inefficient use of resources and non-compliance with procurement regulations.The municipality said the affected items had not been added to the APP for amendment before they were procured.The ministry recommended that senior management and the procurement management unit ensure activities are planned and executed according to the APP, and that APP descriptions match those in quarterly progress reports. The municipality agreed that, going forward, items would be added to the APP for amendment before execution.Tenders and officialsThe audit also found a separate critical planning failure on a tender valued at more than N$2 million.Tender NCS-TB/ONB/OTM/01/2023, for three years of security and cash-in-transit services, had no individual procurement plan (IPP), as required, the auditors found.It drew multiple bids, ranging from about N$3.1 million to N$11.1 million, and was later the subject of a public procurement review panel case brought by two unsuccessful bidders.The audit did not link the missing IPP to the review proceedings, but rated its absence as critical and said it increased the risk of a non-compliant procurement process.The audit also found weaknesses in how procurement officials were appointed and monitored.Appointment letters could not be provided for some members of the procurement committee and procurement management unit. The auditors said the lack of written appointments could undermine the legitimacy of procurement decisions and expose the municipality to disputes, non-compliance and potential financial loss.Performance agreements for several procurement officials were also unavailable, and some members had not completed the required Section 14 disqualification declarations.Overall, the municipality scored 54% in the audit, placing it in the ministry's partial-compliance category. General compliance scored 42% and bid preparation 57%.Stronger controlsMunicipal CEO Mberipura Hifitikeko told Namibian Sun on Sunday that the procurement audit followed a routine audit of accounts payable.He said some municipal staff and councillors had provided additional information, and some of the issues had also been reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission.Hifitikeko said the audit had cleared management of most of the allegations circulating in Otjiwarongo."We ended up being cleared with most of these allegations that have been going around this town," he said.The ministry had instead recommended improvements to the municipality's internal controls, he said.The audit report, however, deals specifically with compliance with the Public Procurement Act, regulations and related directives. It does not state that management was cleared of corruption or other allegations.Several corrective actions were due by 31 July 2026, including measures to align procurement with approved plans and to keep the required appointment and performance documents on file.phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na

Otjiwarongo procurement scores a mere 52%

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-12

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Otjiwarongo procurement scores a mere 52%

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-12

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