N$2m missing from WRP

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) over allegations of misappropriation of public funds.

The ACC's head of investigations, Nelius Becker, confirmed the investigation, saying the anti-graft body responded to allegations reported to it of large amounts of cash having been withdrawn from an FNB Namibia account by some WRP members and representatives without proper resolutions and sanctions.

On 17 May the ACC swooped on the WRP office at Okahandja, after having obtained a search warrant, and confiscated computers and any and all financial documentation found on the property.

The WRP, a public body as all other political parties are considered to be in terms of the ACC Act, had received more than N$5 million in political party funding since 27 September 2017, which was deposited into their account.

Becker said on perusal of the bank account it was discovered that cash withdrawals of N$2 245 000 were made within seven months, between 27 September 2017 and 25 April this year.

He said it was also discovered that the WRP had no bookkeeping system - manual or computerised - in place.

Based on the documentation confiscated, the ACC ascertained from receipts and handwritten documentation that N$1 284 315.84 could be accounted for. It found a “shortfall” of N$960 684.16 between the amounts withdrawn from the account and the amounts that could be supported from by “documentation”.

“The bulk of the expenditure of the cash withdrawn appears to be in relation to personal loans to members of the party,” Becker said.

He said the investigation continues and is widening to establish if all the purchases relates to goods procured in line with the political operations, functions and objectives of the WRP and not for private purposes.

“Currently we are investigating offences of contraventions of section 43 of the ACC Act, corruptly using office of position for gratification and possible offences under the Electoral Act in regard to the use of funds allocated to political parties,” Becker said.

He said political parties, in terms of the Electoral Act, are compelled to provide a list of their assets and liabilities and must provide audited financial statements to the Electoral Commission of Namibia on an annual basis.



Kaapala's complaint

The ACC investigation follows a complaint lodged by Benson Kaapala, a WRP parliamentarian that has reportedly been recalled from his position in the meantime.

Kaapala in his complaint to the ACC wrote that fellow MP Salmon Fleermuys (reportedly also recalled in the meantime) and removed acting secretary-general Klaus Weichhaus, have been responsible for the party's financial management.

The two, alongside Kaapala, were the signatories to the account.

Kaapala said it had come to his attention in February that large amounts of cash were withdrawn by Fleermuys and Weichhaus without his knowledge or consent.





In his complaint he accuses Fleermuys and Weichhaus of having fraudulently withdrawn N$3 240 603.56. Of this, Kaapala said, he was only aware of transactions to the value of N$409 568.06.

FNB suspended the WRP account on 21 May.



Authentic representative

Hewat Beukes, registered as the “authentic representative” of the WRP at the ECN, accused Kaapala of unlawfully withdrawing N$100 000 on 7 February and N$50 000 on 15 February from the FNB account.

Beukes also accused party member Immanuel Samakupa of taking N$20 000.

Moreover, Beukes denied that the WRP has an office at Okahandja, saying the office was “put up as a money-laundering office in the name of the WRP”.

Commenting on Beukes' allegation that he has taken money illegally, Kaapala said Beukes “has nothing to do with the finances of the WRP” and that all receipts must be considered, alongside minutes of meetings where the use and disbursement of such monies were discussed.

Kaapala also said since the party did not receive any money from parliament during 2015, 2016 and the largest part of 2017, he has taken money from his own pocket to fund party activities.

Samakupa said received the N$20 000 to service his car, which he used for party activities.



MPs removed

Meanwhile, National Assembly speaker Professor Peter Katjavivi has reportedly removed the WRP's two MPs from parliament.

Parliament's public relations officer David Nahongandja could not confirm if the two WRP MPs had in fact been removed, but said they did not receive their parliamentary salaries last month.

Kaapala would not directly say if he and fellow Fleermuys were recalled, but confirmed they had not been paid last month.

It is said Katjavivi removed Kaapala and Fleermuys on 24 May at the behest of August Maletzsky.

This was after Maletzky wrote to Katjavivi on 17 May, telling him the WRP central committee had met on 28 April, where it resolved that the two be suspended if they fail to rescind a prior decision to suspend him [Maletzky] from the position of national chairperson.

Maletzky attached the resolution to the letter, where it states the suspension of Kaapala and Fleermuys would be “consolidated” into “full expulsion” from the party if they did not act within five days from receiving notice thereof.

The attached resolution bears the signatures of 16 of the 19 CC members as their purported endorsement of it.



It's fraudulent

Kaapala, elected as the WRP's president at a contested congress held on 17 May 2015, claimed that the signatures are forged and that the top four positions (as elected at that congress) were not present at the CC meeting where the said resolution was taken.

“We were never invited to that meeting,” said Kaapala.

“How can I as the president be dismembered from the party? That can only be done at an extraordinary congress or conference.

“This is forgery; it was fraudulently done. It is a crime of its own order. Maletzky should be arrested. This is really bad for the country,” Kaapala said.

He added parliament has also made a mockery of itself by acting on Maletzky's orders.

His said his legal representative Slysken Makando has already written letters to parliament to challenge the removals.

Kaapala said Maletzky had landed the position of national chairperson at the 2015 congress purely because the party at the time needed a legal advisor.

He said Maletzky, however, was removed as the legal advisor and therefore could no longer be the national chairperson.

Maletzky did not respond to questions sent via SMS to him and also did not answer his phone.

Parliament is yet to respond to questions regarding this matter.

CATHERINE SASMAN