TIPEEG: 75% spent, 80% incomplete
About 251 projects remain incomplete in the now failed TIPEEG programme and although job creation targets were not met, a substantial number were created.
It is now three years since the Targeted Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth (TIPEEG) come to an end, but the National Planning Commission (NPC) cannot provide the final report on how N$14.4 billion was spent and why so many projects remain incomplete.
By the end of January 2014, the programme had used N$11 billion of the budgeted N$14.4 billion, but only 61 of the 312 projects were completed, while 251 projects remain incomplete and are still in limbo.
To make matters worse, the NPC cannot provide accurate figures of the money used by the programme apart from the estimated figures that were published in January 2014. Neither the NPC's permanent secretary, Leevi Hungamo nor the public relations officer Fillemon Nangonya responded to enquiries in this regard.
In April 2011 former president Hifikepunye Pohamba launched TIPEEG as a four-year mid-term expenditure framework to run from the 2011/12 to 2013/14 financial years. This was done with objective of creating employment opportunities - both permanent and temporary - by focusing on selected economic sectors and public works and to ensure speedy implementation by introducing suitable conditions and modalities under which capital projects are to be implemented and to put in place the required infrastructure necessary for economic growth.
“The total estimated expenditure for TIPEEG including public works was N$14.7 billion.
“The total cost of TIPEEG excluding public works was estimated at N$9.1 billion.
“A total of N$14.4 billion of the estimated expenditure has been released so far and N$11 billion (as at end of January 2014) has been spent, resulting in an overall execution rate of 76.6%,” read the January 2014 report.
The report further stated that during the first year of implementation (2011/12), 260 projects were implemented, but only 22 projects were completed.
Thus, 238 projects were carried over to the 2012/13 financial year with an additional 12, which made the total projects for 2012/13 250, but only 27 were completed. Again, 223 projects were carried over to the final year of implementation with additional 40 new projects, putting the total at 263, but only 22 were completed.
“TIPEEG was a total failure. Some 251 projects are still not complete and they are now completely forgotten. It has been three years, but everybody is quiet about it,” said a source which chose to remain anonymous.
The source further questioned, “If the project money was N$14.4 billion and N$11 billion has already been used up, what was that money used for? What happened to the remaining N$3.4 billion and when is the NPC going to release the final report?”
However, the TIPEEG report indicated that the amount released under the TIPEEG a sector (which refers to agriculture, transport & logistics, tourism, and housing and sanitation) was N$9.7 billion of which N$7.6 billion (as at end of January 2014) was spent translating into an execution rate of 78.3%.
The total number of jobs created under the targeted sectors so far (as at end of September 2013) was 49 770 which represents 47.9% of the 104 000 jobs targeted.
It further indicated that a total number of 83 315 jobs (including those created under public works) were created under TIPEEG. Of these, 67 485 were on a temporary basis while 15 829 were permanent. This represents 44.6% of the 187 000 jobs estimated to be created under TIPEEG, including public works.
“Although there have been challenges in the implementation of the programme, positive outcomes have been recorded in terms of employment creation and empowering the local people as most of the TIPEEG projects are implemented by SMEs and the majority of the manpower is drawn from the regions where the projects take place.
“As we conclude this programme this financial year (2013/14), NPC is optimistic that the target of the 104 000 will be achieved at the end of the programme.”
ILENI NANDJATO
By the end of January 2014, the programme had used N$11 billion of the budgeted N$14.4 billion, but only 61 of the 312 projects were completed, while 251 projects remain incomplete and are still in limbo.
To make matters worse, the NPC cannot provide accurate figures of the money used by the programme apart from the estimated figures that were published in January 2014. Neither the NPC's permanent secretary, Leevi Hungamo nor the public relations officer Fillemon Nangonya responded to enquiries in this regard.
In April 2011 former president Hifikepunye Pohamba launched TIPEEG as a four-year mid-term expenditure framework to run from the 2011/12 to 2013/14 financial years. This was done with objective of creating employment opportunities - both permanent and temporary - by focusing on selected economic sectors and public works and to ensure speedy implementation by introducing suitable conditions and modalities under which capital projects are to be implemented and to put in place the required infrastructure necessary for economic growth.
“The total estimated expenditure for TIPEEG including public works was N$14.7 billion.
“The total cost of TIPEEG excluding public works was estimated at N$9.1 billion.
“A total of N$14.4 billion of the estimated expenditure has been released so far and N$11 billion (as at end of January 2014) has been spent, resulting in an overall execution rate of 76.6%,” read the January 2014 report.
The report further stated that during the first year of implementation (2011/12), 260 projects were implemented, but only 22 projects were completed.
Thus, 238 projects were carried over to the 2012/13 financial year with an additional 12, which made the total projects for 2012/13 250, but only 27 were completed. Again, 223 projects were carried over to the final year of implementation with additional 40 new projects, putting the total at 263, but only 22 were completed.
“TIPEEG was a total failure. Some 251 projects are still not complete and they are now completely forgotten. It has been three years, but everybody is quiet about it,” said a source which chose to remain anonymous.
The source further questioned, “If the project money was N$14.4 billion and N$11 billion has already been used up, what was that money used for? What happened to the remaining N$3.4 billion and when is the NPC going to release the final report?”
However, the TIPEEG report indicated that the amount released under the TIPEEG a sector (which refers to agriculture, transport & logistics, tourism, and housing and sanitation) was N$9.7 billion of which N$7.6 billion (as at end of January 2014) was spent translating into an execution rate of 78.3%.
The total number of jobs created under the targeted sectors so far (as at end of September 2013) was 49 770 which represents 47.9% of the 104 000 jobs targeted.
It further indicated that a total number of 83 315 jobs (including those created under public works) were created under TIPEEG. Of these, 67 485 were on a temporary basis while 15 829 were permanent. This represents 44.6% of the 187 000 jobs estimated to be created under TIPEEG, including public works.
“Although there have been challenges in the implementation of the programme, positive outcomes have been recorded in terms of employment creation and empowering the local people as most of the TIPEEG projects are implemented by SMEs and the majority of the manpower is drawn from the regions where the projects take place.
“As we conclude this programme this financial year (2013/14), NPC is optimistic that the target of the 104 000 will be achieved at the end of the programme.”
ILENI NANDJATO
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