Mwoombola fights back
The former health PS says it as an open secret that the ministry was rife with corruption and nepotism, at the time he become its accounting officer.
Former health permanent secretary Andreas Mwoombola has launched a two-fold application in the Labour Court, in which he wants to court to either halt his disciplinary hearing or compel the respondents to furnish him with further particulars of the charges against him.
Mwoombola wants the decision by secretary to cabinet George Simaata to establish the disciplinary committee, the refusal of the committee to provide him with additional evidence, as well as further particulars, to be reviewed and set aside. The former PS was initially suspended, reinstated and then transferred late last year to the Office of the Prime Minister. Simaata established the disciplinary committee using provisions of the Public Service Act.
The committee consists of Shivute Indongo as chairperson, as well as Ono Angula and Rector Finyeho.
Alternatively, Mwoombola wants the court to set aside the decision taken by the disciplinary committee on 12 September 2017, which rejected his protestations over its composition.
According the Mwoombola, the disciplinary committee also refused to order the initiator of the proceedings to give him further particulars of the charges against him on 9 October 2017.
In the event that the court does not halt the disciplinary proceedings, he wants it to order that he be furnished with further particulars before the hearing commences. Mwoombola also wants the court to order that any respondent opposing the application must pay the costs. He also wants Simaata to give reasons why he appointed Indongo as the disciplinary committee chairperson, and wants a copy of his curriculum vitae, along with those of Angula and Finyeho.
Mwoombola is also requesting that the court compel health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa to hand over copies of minutes of a consultative meetings held with Simaata. He also wants Haufiku's written proposal to Kuugongelwa in which he asks that two permanent secretaries be appointed in his ministry, as well as a copy of the prime minister's response. The former PS also wants Indongo to hand him transcripts of the 12 September 2017 and 9 October 2017 sittings of the disciplinary committee. He also wants Indongo to provide copies of all the evidence collected in support of the charges.
Mwoombola wants a order that disciplinary proceedings only commence once this has been complied with and that he obtain access to his laptop and personal computer, which is currently in the Anti-Corruption Commission's possession. Mwoombola said in a sworn affidavit that his relationship with Haufiku, who had effectively head-hunted him, had broken down irrevocably.
“I was extremely reluctant to take on this position as I was happy in my position at Nedbank,” he lamented.
According to him it's a well-known fact that the ministry was rife with corruption and nepotism and he now believes the minister wrongly suspected that he allegedly took part in alleged corrupt practices. He was suspected to have participated in assisting private companies to gain favour and advantage over and above the interests of the ministry.
“The minister without ever discussing any situation with me has indicated that he has lost complete trust in me,” Mwoombola said.
The matter is still at the case management stage.
Mwoombola wants the decision by secretary to cabinet George Simaata to establish the disciplinary committee, the refusal of the committee to provide him with additional evidence, as well as further particulars, to be reviewed and set aside. The former PS was initially suspended, reinstated and then transferred late last year to the Office of the Prime Minister. Simaata established the disciplinary committee using provisions of the Public Service Act.
The committee consists of Shivute Indongo as chairperson, as well as Ono Angula and Rector Finyeho.
Alternatively, Mwoombola wants the court to set aside the decision taken by the disciplinary committee on 12 September 2017, which rejected his protestations over its composition.
According the Mwoombola, the disciplinary committee also refused to order the initiator of the proceedings to give him further particulars of the charges against him on 9 October 2017.
In the event that the court does not halt the disciplinary proceedings, he wants it to order that he be furnished with further particulars before the hearing commences. Mwoombola also wants the court to order that any respondent opposing the application must pay the costs. He also wants Simaata to give reasons why he appointed Indongo as the disciplinary committee chairperson, and wants a copy of his curriculum vitae, along with those of Angula and Finyeho.
Mwoombola is also requesting that the court compel health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa to hand over copies of minutes of a consultative meetings held with Simaata. He also wants Haufiku's written proposal to Kuugongelwa in which he asks that two permanent secretaries be appointed in his ministry, as well as a copy of the prime minister's response. The former PS also wants Indongo to hand him transcripts of the 12 September 2017 and 9 October 2017 sittings of the disciplinary committee. He also wants Indongo to provide copies of all the evidence collected in support of the charges.
Mwoombola wants a order that disciplinary proceedings only commence once this has been complied with and that he obtain access to his laptop and personal computer, which is currently in the Anti-Corruption Commission's possession. Mwoombola said in a sworn affidavit that his relationship with Haufiku, who had effectively head-hunted him, had broken down irrevocably.
“I was extremely reluctant to take on this position as I was happy in my position at Nedbank,” he lamented.
According to him it's a well-known fact that the ministry was rife with corruption and nepotism and he now believes the minister wrongly suspected that he allegedly took part in alleged corrupt practices. He was suspected to have participated in assisting private companies to gain favour and advantage over and above the interests of the ministry.
“The minister without ever discussing any situation with me has indicated that he has lost complete trust in me,” Mwoombola said.
The matter is still at the case management stage.
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