Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sonja Smith
Published on 2024-03-11 17:00:00
Namibia’s largest trade union, the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), has raised concerns about alleged corruption at the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP). In a letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa, Napwu general secretary Petrus Nevonga requested an investigation into the decision by NIP executives to provide its top officials with a fuel allowance of N$20,000 per year.
Nevonga highlighted the additional benefits received by NIP executives through a car scheme that allows them to choose high-end cars paid for by the institute, in addition to the fuel allowance. He called for an investigation into the transactions of the NIP’s Bank Windhoek account to determine compliance with the Public Procurement Act and its regulations.
According to reports, the NIP spent N$5.3 million on its top five executives, with payments made for luxury vehicles such as Mercedes Benz, Ford Ranger, Nissan, Toyota Fortuner, and Amarok. These expenditures raised concerns among NIP employees, who protested against the alleged misuse of funds, citing service interruptions due to instrument malfunctions and stock shortages.
Despite these concerns, the NIP board reportedly defended the executives instead of addressing the issues raised by employees. Nevonga emphasized the need for the ACC to investigate these allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption at the parastatal.
In April 2022, the NIP board chairperson requested a change in the management’s remuneration, resulting in an increase in the salary of the chief executive from N$1.5 million to N$1.6 million per year. However, the approval of this increase was contingent upon the development of policies by the executives, which, according to insiders, have not been implemented almost two years later.
When contacted for comment, the ACC director general was not available for response, but a spokesperson confirmed that the institution had received the complaint and would evaluate it accordingly. NIP’s chief executive stated that the company had not received a request from Napwu to investigate the matter, while the board chair defended the purchase of luxury cars as a legitimate practice.
In conclusion, the allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement at the NIP have raised concerns among stakeholders, prompting calls for further investigation by the ACC. It remains to be seen how the ACC will proceed in evaluating these allegations and ensuring accountability within the parastatal. Subscribe to The Namibian for credible journalism and in-depth reporting on this and other important issues affecting Namibia.
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