Geingob takes us for fools - PDM
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has rubbished a statement from the Presidency that it was unaware that a N$999 000 elevator had been installed at a guesthouse of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari issued a statement late on Friday to explain its position on the elevator that was installed in a “clandestine and illegal” manner.
However PDM treasurer Nico Smit said Geingob was fooling the nation.
“This is nonsense. The story about elevator has been in the public sphere and on social media for the last three weeks. First the officials denied that it was a government house saying it was a private residence, and now that they realise they can no longer deny it they are changing their tune,” said Smit.
Smit also questioned why the president was eager to deal with the “junior staff” and not the senior staff such as the prime minister, the permanent secretary and the ministers involved in this scandal.
“Once again we see them frying small fish but avoiding the big culprits. We know this is an election year and we will not be fooled,” said Smit. According to Hengari the installation was uncovered by senior management staff in the Presidency.
In the wake of this President Hage Geingob launched a full-scale investigation into the installation because, according to the statement, it undermined the president's commitment to reducing the waste of public resources.
According to Hengari the installation took place between 1 and 8 April, two weeks after President Geingob had told the media that “there are no plans, and there will never be plans to do upgrades at the house”.
Hengari said these unauthorised, non-procedural and illegal actions sought to tarnish President Geingob's commitment to effective governance.
“The installation was carried out without due authorisation of, and respect for, procurement procedures. President Geingob mandated management in the Presidency, acting in close collaboration with the secretary to cabinet, George Simataa and the executive director in the Office of the Prime Minister, to do everything possible to identify the culprits and lay charges in accordance with applicable laws of Namibia,” said Hengari.
He emphasised that irrespective of the underlying reasons and motivations of these individuals, their actions were clearly illegal as they were neither authorised, nor did they follow the mandatory procedures of procurement which serve as checks and balances to prevent illegal and unauthorised expenditure.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari issued a statement late on Friday to explain its position on the elevator that was installed in a “clandestine and illegal” manner.
However PDM treasurer Nico Smit said Geingob was fooling the nation.
“This is nonsense. The story about elevator has been in the public sphere and on social media for the last three weeks. First the officials denied that it was a government house saying it was a private residence, and now that they realise they can no longer deny it they are changing their tune,” said Smit.
Smit also questioned why the president was eager to deal with the “junior staff” and not the senior staff such as the prime minister, the permanent secretary and the ministers involved in this scandal.
“Once again we see them frying small fish but avoiding the big culprits. We know this is an election year and we will not be fooled,” said Smit. According to Hengari the installation was uncovered by senior management staff in the Presidency.
In the wake of this President Hage Geingob launched a full-scale investigation into the installation because, according to the statement, it undermined the president's commitment to reducing the waste of public resources.
According to Hengari the installation took place between 1 and 8 April, two weeks after President Geingob had told the media that “there are no plans, and there will never be plans to do upgrades at the house”.
Hengari said these unauthorised, non-procedural and illegal actions sought to tarnish President Geingob's commitment to effective governance.
“The installation was carried out without due authorisation of, and respect for, procurement procedures. President Geingob mandated management in the Presidency, acting in close collaboration with the secretary to cabinet, George Simataa and the executive director in the Office of the Prime Minister, to do everything possible to identify the culprits and lay charges in accordance with applicable laws of Namibia,” said Hengari.
He emphasised that irrespective of the underlying reasons and motivations of these individuals, their actions were clearly illegal as they were neither authorised, nor did they follow the mandatory procedures of procurement which serve as checks and balances to prevent illegal and unauthorised expenditure.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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