SOE Act silent on political donations
“Donations, if any, should be budgeted for and may be queried by the shareholder if the need arises,” Jooste said.
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
There is no provision in the Public Enterprise Act preventing public entities from making political donations, public enterprise minister Leon Jooste has acknowledged.
In a recent affidavit, lawyer Sisa Namandje confirmed to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that his law firm used its trust account to make payments of N$7.5 million to Swapo, while approximately N$15 million had been paid to Swapo district coordinator for the Otjikoto region, Armas Amukwiyu.
This follows reports that the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) made donations to ruling party Swapo ahead of an elective congress held in November 2017.
Act silent on donations
According to Jooste, these donations had been made before the Public Enterprises Act became law.
“The alleged donations you are referring to occurred before the Public Enterprises Governance Act of 2019 was operationalised. Public enterprises are required to submit annual business plans and budgets that must be approved by the shareholder [government],” Jooste said.
The Act mandates state-owned enterprises to budget for any donations, he said.
“Donations, if any, should be budgeted for and may be queried by the shareholder if the need arises. Public enterprises are legally bound to adhere to the approved business plans and budgets,” Jooste said.
The ACC had also asked Namandje to explain a payment of N$16 million linked to Swapo that had been made through his law firm’s trust account by Yucor Investments in February 2012.
This venture is made up of a company owned by the Swapo Party Youth League and Esja Mar/Mermaria Seafood Namibia. Esja Mar/Mermaria is linked to corruption-plagued Icelandic fishing company Samherji.
WINDHOEK
There is no provision in the Public Enterprise Act preventing public entities from making political donations, public enterprise minister Leon Jooste has acknowledged.
In a recent affidavit, lawyer Sisa Namandje confirmed to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that his law firm used its trust account to make payments of N$7.5 million to Swapo, while approximately N$15 million had been paid to Swapo district coordinator for the Otjikoto region, Armas Amukwiyu.
This follows reports that the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) made donations to ruling party Swapo ahead of an elective congress held in November 2017.
Act silent on donations
According to Jooste, these donations had been made before the Public Enterprises Act became law.
“The alleged donations you are referring to occurred before the Public Enterprises Governance Act of 2019 was operationalised. Public enterprises are required to submit annual business plans and budgets that must be approved by the shareholder [government],” Jooste said.
The Act mandates state-owned enterprises to budget for any donations, he said.
“Donations, if any, should be budgeted for and may be queried by the shareholder if the need arises. Public enterprises are legally bound to adhere to the approved business plans and budgets,” Jooste said.
The ACC had also asked Namandje to explain a payment of N$16 million linked to Swapo that had been made through his law firm’s trust account by Yucor Investments in February 2012.
This venture is made up of a company owned by the Swapo Party Youth League and Esja Mar/Mermaria Seafood Namibia. Esja Mar/Mermaria is linked to corruption-plagued Icelandic fishing company Samherji.
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