Nghiwete hearing soon
The NSFAF board hopes the matter will be concluded before the end of October.
The CEO of the Namibia Students Financial Assistant Fund (NSFAF), Hilya Nghiwete, is to appear before a disciplinary hearing on 3 to 5 October, and again on 11 to 12 October.
Nghiwete was suspended on 16 April by the new board chaired by Jerome Mutumba on charges of maladministration and/or administrative corruption, amongst other misconduct. The charges against her were formalised 14 days after her suspension following a targeted investigation. The commissioned forensic audit done by PriceWaterhouse Coopers Namibia (PWC) has now been completed, which Mutumba said “found a number of issues where the company was found wanting”.
He would, however, not say what the exact charges against Nghiwete are. At the time the NSFAF announced her suspension it merely stated that there were “serious allegations” against her.
Mutumba also refused to disclose the amount paid to PWC for the forensic audit and only commented: “Forensic audits are not cheap.”
Nghiwete received her full salary over the five months of her suspension but was stripped of her powers and duties at the NSFAF.
After a date for the initial hearing was set down, Nghiwete through her lawyer, Sisa Namandje, asked for a postponement.
Though Mutumba said the matter has been out of the hands of the board since then, the board anticipates that it will be finalised shortly after the disciplinary hearing.
“The board wants to resolve this matter in the shortest period possible and hope it will be finalised by the end of October,” Mutumba said.
Catalogue of charges
Sources preferring anonymity said a “catalogue of charges” have been formulated against Nghiwete.
The sources claimed there was “deliberate chaos created at the NSFAF” from which “some wanted to thrive from”.
Mutumba would not comment on these statements and merely said: “The commitment of the new board is to bring stability and improved services quickly and effectively and make sure funds given to us are used responsibly. Our preoccupation is to set the direction for the organisation so that management can do its work properly.”
Namandje, Nghiwete's lawyer, would not say if his client has received the exact charges against her, and said: “I don't want to discuss this with the media; I don't want to discuss bogus charges.”
CATHERINE SASMAN
Nghiwete was suspended on 16 April by the new board chaired by Jerome Mutumba on charges of maladministration and/or administrative corruption, amongst other misconduct. The charges against her were formalised 14 days after her suspension following a targeted investigation. The commissioned forensic audit done by PriceWaterhouse Coopers Namibia (PWC) has now been completed, which Mutumba said “found a number of issues where the company was found wanting”.
He would, however, not say what the exact charges against Nghiwete are. At the time the NSFAF announced her suspension it merely stated that there were “serious allegations” against her.
Mutumba also refused to disclose the amount paid to PWC for the forensic audit and only commented: “Forensic audits are not cheap.”
Nghiwete received her full salary over the five months of her suspension but was stripped of her powers and duties at the NSFAF.
After a date for the initial hearing was set down, Nghiwete through her lawyer, Sisa Namandje, asked for a postponement.
Though Mutumba said the matter has been out of the hands of the board since then, the board anticipates that it will be finalised shortly after the disciplinary hearing.
“The board wants to resolve this matter in the shortest period possible and hope it will be finalised by the end of October,” Mutumba said.
Catalogue of charges
Sources preferring anonymity said a “catalogue of charges” have been formulated against Nghiwete.
The sources claimed there was “deliberate chaos created at the NSFAF” from which “some wanted to thrive from”.
Mutumba would not comment on these statements and merely said: “The commitment of the new board is to bring stability and improved services quickly and effectively and make sure funds given to us are used responsibly. Our preoccupation is to set the direction for the organisation so that management can do its work properly.”
Namandje, Nghiwete's lawyer, would not say if his client has received the exact charges against her, and said: “I don't want to discuss this with the media; I don't want to discuss bogus charges.”
CATHERINE SASMAN
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