Hengari says justice will prevail
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) yesterday indefinitely suspended managing director Zelna Hengari pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
Hengari confirmed the suspension in a brief telephonic interview.
“All I have to say is that I know justice will prevail, given a transparent and fair platform for me to tell my story.”
She said the suspension was indefinite, pending the outcome of the investigation. She added that it was likely to continue until her contract with NWR expired in July.
Hengari said she was informed of the suspension yesterday morning, and was called out of an executive meeting to be handed the letter, dated Thursday, 18 April.
Earlier this month, NWR board chairman Leonard Iipumbu blamed Hengari for the cancellation of a joint-venture agreement with Sun Karros Safaris.
Iipumbu said the agreement, which was signed by the managing director of Sun Karros, Bertus Struwig, on 30 May last year and then by Hengari on 11 June 2018, was cancelled by the current board because it had been approved by Hengari “without the knowledge and authorisation of the [previous] board of directors of NWR and the minister of environment and tourism”.
The joint venture has in the meantime been restored.
Namibian Sun approached Iipumbu for comment yesterday, but he had not responded by the time of going to print.
Namibian Sun was reliably informed that Hengari's suspension was linked to allegations that she had agreed to a public-private partnership between NWR and Sun Karros “without the necessary approval to do so and without following correct procedures.”
The suspension letter also claims there is “prima facie proof” that Hengari engineered the partnership between NWR and Sun Karros without adhering to the provisions of the Public-private Partnership Act.
Another reason for the suspension was the alleged risk that Hengari would interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence linked to the investigation against her.
Hengari was suspended with full pay and benefits until further notice.
Reliable sources informed Namibian Sun that both environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta and minister of public enterprises Leon Jooste had ordered the NWR board to take disciplinary action against Hengari earlier this month, following a meeting where the Sun Karros partnership had been discussed.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Hengari confirmed the suspension in a brief telephonic interview.
“All I have to say is that I know justice will prevail, given a transparent and fair platform for me to tell my story.”
She said the suspension was indefinite, pending the outcome of the investigation. She added that it was likely to continue until her contract with NWR expired in July.
Hengari said she was informed of the suspension yesterday morning, and was called out of an executive meeting to be handed the letter, dated Thursday, 18 April.
Earlier this month, NWR board chairman Leonard Iipumbu blamed Hengari for the cancellation of a joint-venture agreement with Sun Karros Safaris.
Iipumbu said the agreement, which was signed by the managing director of Sun Karros, Bertus Struwig, on 30 May last year and then by Hengari on 11 June 2018, was cancelled by the current board because it had been approved by Hengari “without the knowledge and authorisation of the [previous] board of directors of NWR and the minister of environment and tourism”.
The joint venture has in the meantime been restored.
Namibian Sun approached Iipumbu for comment yesterday, but he had not responded by the time of going to print.
Namibian Sun was reliably informed that Hengari's suspension was linked to allegations that she had agreed to a public-private partnership between NWR and Sun Karros “without the necessary approval to do so and without following correct procedures.”
The suspension letter also claims there is “prima facie proof” that Hengari engineered the partnership between NWR and Sun Karros without adhering to the provisions of the Public-private Partnership Act.
Another reason for the suspension was the alleged risk that Hengari would interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence linked to the investigation against her.
Hengari was suspended with full pay and benefits until further notice.
Reliable sources informed Namibian Sun that both environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta and minister of public enterprises Leon Jooste had ordered the NWR board to take disciplinary action against Hengari earlier this month, following a meeting where the Sun Karros partnership had been discussed.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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