‘Job rigging’ claims at Swapo company

JEMIMA BEUKES



WINDHOEK

A Swapo company, Guinas Investments, has been accused of ‘rigging’ the recruitment process of a business administrator at the entity by sidelining the candidate who scored the highest during interviews.

The matter involving Guinas, which has various interests ranging from mining, construction, fishing, hotels and manufacturing, was reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The anti-graft agency, however, declined to investigate the matter.

ACC spokeswoman Josephine Nghituwamata told Namibian Sun yesterday that the matter had been registered.

“Upon assessment and review, the report holds no reasonable ground to be investigated under the Anti-Corruption Act and thus, no investigation mandate [was] given,” she said.

Some Guinas board members have since accused Swapo of interfering in operational matters as well as using the process to settle political scores.

On 7 October, a certain Anna Shimbudhi wrote to the ACC, alleging that the recruitment process was done in an irregular and unfair manner as well as claiming abuse of power by the panellists.

Shimbudhi also accused deputy gender minister Bernadette Jagger, who doubles as Swapo’s secretary for economic affairs, of deliberately overlooking the candidate recommended by the board.

‘Appointable’ candidates

Six candidates were interviewed, of which three were identified as ‘appointable’. They were George Ithembu, Queen Kamati and Martha Iidhenga.

The board recommended Ithembu as the successful candidate to be appointed as business administrator, but added that he should serve probation since he may have been overqualified for the position and should be considered for the general manager position instead.

On 16 August, Guinas board chair Paulina Haindongo wrote to Swapo’s director for administration Joseph Kaudinge informing him of the recruitment exercise and subsequently submitted three names for vetting purposes by the party.

These were Kamati, Iidhenga and Onesmus Embula.

According to Haindongo’s letter, Kamati was the board’s preferred choice.

However, in a letter dated 5 October, Jagger wrote to Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa recommending that Idhenga be appointed, instead of Kamati.

“I am pleased to convey to you through this letter … that the submission was carefully scrutinised and, based on the defined requirements for the position, it is our finding and recommendation that Mrs Martha Iidhenga is the most suitable candidate to fill the position.”

Some board members said they were shocked to learn that Jagger had ignored their recommendation and instead chose Iidhenga at her own discretion.

Iidhenga is the daughter of Swapo parliamentarian Fenny Nanyeni.

Despite several attempts, Jagger was not reachable by the time of going to print.

No word

Kamati, who serves as one of Swapo’s councillors on the City of Windhoek council, confirmed that she was part of the interviews, but indicated that she did not receive any feedback whether she was successful or not.

“I can confirm that I went for an interview sometime in August at Guinas, but I did not receive feedback after the interview. This is news to me,” she said on being overlooked for the position.

“Please approach the relevant body for your queries,” she added.

Haindongo said “I have no comment on the matter”, while Shaningwa said she is not aware of the matter.

“When people apply, they do not apply with the names of their parents. We must not look at whose child is who. Those who are qualified must get the positions. I am not interested in team stories [referring to Team Swapo versus Team Harambee]; we are all Swapo members who supported different candidates. People must stop this,” she said.

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