Defence running amok - Smit
The official opposition says the Namibian Defence Force has become so powerful that it is effectively answering to no one.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) treasurer Nico Smit says the defence ministry's purchasing of two farms at a combined cost of nearly N$70 million has demonstrated its utter disrespect for due process and its disregard for the National Assembly and the country's constitution.
According to him, Swapo has allowed the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) to become “so powerful” through a lack of parliamentary oversight that it was “now running amok”, while effectively answering to no one.
After drawing fire last month over the purchase of the Oropoko game farm near Okahandja for N$45 million from German investor Kurt Steinhausen, news broke last week that the defence ministry had also acquired Farm Otjisemba in the Otjozondjupa Region for N$24 million, which it masked as an unpaid invoice.
Defence spokesperson Major Petrus Shilumbu said the ministry would shed more light on the purchase of the second farm in due course.
“We will pronounce ourselves at a later stage, not now. Once the permanent secretary pronounces himself we will let you know,” Shilumbu said.
Smit said it was odd that defence minister Penda ya Ndakolo was not addressing the second farm purchase, as he had done in parliament when news broke of the Oropoko buy. He added that if Ya Ndakolo was intimating that he was not aware of the second farm purchase then he is either a liar or incompetent.
According to Smit, in instances where substantial amounts of money are required, the process has to pass through parliament.
“One of these is ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources, subject to parliamentary oversight, and in the event of new procurement to respond to changing circumstances, parliamentary agreement must be secured,” he said.
Smit also argued that Ya Ndakolo should resign.
“Unfortunately our government does not believe in taking responsibility for top-level decisions. Ya Ndakolo seems to be thumbing his nose at his boss, confident that he will be allowed to get away with it, which makes one wonder whether he is actually more powerful than President Hage Geingob,” said Smit.
According to him, the president's silence on the issue is disturbing.
“It is our contention that this puts our democracy in great jeopardy. Furthermore, the deafening silence from President Geingob regarding this issue of wasting our money on buying two farms for a total of almost N$70 million is very disturbing,” said Smit.
The new revelations around the purchase of Farm Otjisemba in the Otjozondjupa Region, which measures 5 138 hectares, comes closely on the heels of the Oropoko purchase hitting the news headlines.
The defence ministry has been hogging the headlines in recent months after it emerged that it had acquired Oropoko game farm to the tune of N$45 million to train troops.
Oropoko, which is situated near Okahandja, was bought from German investor Kurt Steinhausen. It measures 4 974 hectares.
New information reveals the ministry in fact spent an additional N$24 million to purchase Farm Otjisemba in the Otjozondjupa Region, which measures 5 138 hectares.
The government entered into a sale agreement for the purchase of Farm Otjisemba on 15 March 2017.
According to documents seen by Namibian Sun, a deposit of N$10 million was paid towards the transaction on the same day the deal was signed.
Finance minister Calle Schlettwein told Namibian Sun's sister newspaper Republikein that the deal was seemingly concluded while the treasury was preoccupied with the settlement of outstanding invoices from the 2016/17 financial year.
“The payment slipped through in the time when we were making special provision for the settlement of outstanding invoices,” Schlettwein was quoted as saying.
According to Schlettwein, the defence ministry did not follow the correct procedures when purchasing the farm.
Works permanent secretary Willem Goeiemann, who represented the government when the deal was signed, also refused to comment. He referred all queries to the defence ministry. “I do not want to comment on this, you must talk to defence,” Goeiemann said.
OGONE TLHAGE
According to him, Swapo has allowed the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) to become “so powerful” through a lack of parliamentary oversight that it was “now running amok”, while effectively answering to no one.
After drawing fire last month over the purchase of the Oropoko game farm near Okahandja for N$45 million from German investor Kurt Steinhausen, news broke last week that the defence ministry had also acquired Farm Otjisemba in the Otjozondjupa Region for N$24 million, which it masked as an unpaid invoice.
Defence spokesperson Major Petrus Shilumbu said the ministry would shed more light on the purchase of the second farm in due course.
“We will pronounce ourselves at a later stage, not now. Once the permanent secretary pronounces himself we will let you know,” Shilumbu said.
Smit said it was odd that defence minister Penda ya Ndakolo was not addressing the second farm purchase, as he had done in parliament when news broke of the Oropoko buy. He added that if Ya Ndakolo was intimating that he was not aware of the second farm purchase then he is either a liar or incompetent.
According to Smit, in instances where substantial amounts of money are required, the process has to pass through parliament.
“One of these is ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources, subject to parliamentary oversight, and in the event of new procurement to respond to changing circumstances, parliamentary agreement must be secured,” he said.
Smit also argued that Ya Ndakolo should resign.
“Unfortunately our government does not believe in taking responsibility for top-level decisions. Ya Ndakolo seems to be thumbing his nose at his boss, confident that he will be allowed to get away with it, which makes one wonder whether he is actually more powerful than President Hage Geingob,” said Smit.
According to him, the president's silence on the issue is disturbing.
“It is our contention that this puts our democracy in great jeopardy. Furthermore, the deafening silence from President Geingob regarding this issue of wasting our money on buying two farms for a total of almost N$70 million is very disturbing,” said Smit.
The new revelations around the purchase of Farm Otjisemba in the Otjozondjupa Region, which measures 5 138 hectares, comes closely on the heels of the Oropoko purchase hitting the news headlines.
The defence ministry has been hogging the headlines in recent months after it emerged that it had acquired Oropoko game farm to the tune of N$45 million to train troops.
Oropoko, which is situated near Okahandja, was bought from German investor Kurt Steinhausen. It measures 4 974 hectares.
New information reveals the ministry in fact spent an additional N$24 million to purchase Farm Otjisemba in the Otjozondjupa Region, which measures 5 138 hectares.
The government entered into a sale agreement for the purchase of Farm Otjisemba on 15 March 2017.
According to documents seen by Namibian Sun, a deposit of N$10 million was paid towards the transaction on the same day the deal was signed.
Finance minister Calle Schlettwein told Namibian Sun's sister newspaper Republikein that the deal was seemingly concluded while the treasury was preoccupied with the settlement of outstanding invoices from the 2016/17 financial year.
“The payment slipped through in the time when we were making special provision for the settlement of outstanding invoices,” Schlettwein was quoted as saying.
According to Schlettwein, the defence ministry did not follow the correct procedures when purchasing the farm.
Works permanent secretary Willem Goeiemann, who represented the government when the deal was signed, also refused to comment. He referred all queries to the defence ministry. “I do not want to comment on this, you must talk to defence,” Goeiemann said.
OGONE TLHAGE
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article