Ambassador ordered to pay for fictitious claims

WINDHOEK TOIVO NDJEBELA

The government has ordered Namibian ambassador to Zimbabwe Panduleni Shingenge to repay more than N$19 000 she allegedly claimed under false pretences from the mission's coffers, a development that has heightened talk of her recall.
A letter by outgoing permanent secretary of foreign affairs Veiccoh Nghiwete also asked Shingenge to explain why government money was used to repatriate the body of the wife of one of the local staff members from South Africa.
Namibian Sun understands that the wife of a Zimbabwean national, who works for the embassy as a gardener, died of cancer in a South African hospital and Shingenge released money for the repatriation of her body to Zimbabwe.
Could you kindly inform the ministry whether approval was obtained from the ministry? Nghiwete wrote in a letter dated April 16, 2013.
Nghiwete's letter lifted the veil on a number of alleged financial transgressions at the embassy in Harare, with all fingers pointing at Shingenge as a key player in almost all the cited incidents.
Embassy funds were allegedly used to bankroll the purchase of a coffin, food and flowers for the funeral of one of the Zimbabwean nationals working at the embassy, who died during the financial year under review.
Nghiwete asked for an explanation why such spending was allowed while the mission makes contribution towards the funeral policies taken out by the local staff members.
While there are seemingly many unanswered questions regarding the handling of government money by the embassy, what stands out prominently are suggestions that Shingenge faked claims to get money from the embassy coffers.
It is alleged in Nghiwete's letter that between July and September 2012, Shingenge claimed the representational allowance of the mission's second secretary Arnart Mouton, on top of to her own representational allowance claims.
It is therefore inappropriate for the ambassador to use the representational allowance of the second secretary, because each staff member can only claim the amount he/she is entitled to per the letter of posting, the permanent secretary wrote.
No allowances are transferable from one officer to another.
Namibian Sun understands that the embassy was without a second secretary at the time when these claims were made.
The law dictates that in the absence of an official, the representational allowance of that personal shall be forfeited to the State.
According to the financial returns, it is stated that the amount was issued to the second secretary while in fact it is the ambassador who is the beneficiary, stated Nghiwete.
This payment was therefore irregular and as such the ambassador should refund the amount since it is against the regulations.
Nghiwete told Shingenge that she claimed and accounted for more than what she is entitled to .
These expenses should be deducted.
It is also claimed that embassy funds were used to help sponsor the wedding of the embassy's receptionist, including buying a tent for the guests.
It is claimed that although the receptionist is a local staff member, the wedding reception took place at the embassy premises.
Sponsorship of a tent for the wedding of a receptionist is not part of the representational responsibility… The amount should be deducted.
Nghiwete also asked Shingenge to produce receipts of how the representational allowances for October, November and December 2012 were spent. She was also asked to produce evidence justifying her allowances for January, February and March 2013.
Attempts to get comment from the Zimbabwean embassy this week proved futile.