Higher education ministry concerned over Nust’s ‘tarnished’ reputation

Higher education executive director Alfred van Kent has voiced concern over the tarnished reputation of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).

The outgoing Nust council is in the eye of the storm over its failure to investigate nepotism, tribalism and maladministration accusations levelled against vice chancellor Erold Naomab.

Van Kent could not, however, reveal whether the ministry will extend the tenure of the Florette Nakusera-led council.

“Bad publicity has definitely impacted on the institution, which is something that we do not want to see. This is what we have actually informed the council [of] when they said we are acting on behalf of the shareholder.

“This is one of the things which they should (have) really prevented from happening. If you cause damage for whatever reason, even if it’s false information, you need to properly manage the narrative that goes around by providing information to whoever and wherever this comes from,” said Van Kent.

The National Union of Namibian Workers leader, Job Muniaro, rapped the Nust council for failing to investigate its vice chancellor.

“ I first want to understand why people have to postpone a crime and want [if] to disappear? Nust is an institution that is there in terms of the development of this country. Therefore, maladministration is not in favour of the people of this country. It should be immediately taken on before it becomes a disease that is not curable,” he said.

Muniaro added that, “There is no person that has to sign a contract with Nust, which has allowed him to steal or to misuse the property of Nust. They had a tenure full of crime and full of corruption. And if we are to keep the council in place, are you saying we should extend the corruption, or what?”

Former NBC director general Ben Mulongeni said: “There are factions within that council. Somehow others decided to go the other way, while this one is also shouting loudly, publicly. This means there are cracks and the system is corrupt and not functioning well.

“Whether the minister intervenes or not, she will intervene but with what authority? Does she have the backing from the president? Does she have support from the prime minister? How is she dealing with the different factions starting from the ruling party and Cabinet? So, this is the problem that we have,” he said on Desert Radio.

The Landless People’s Movement youth command element’s Duminga Ndala said the council’s mandate must be extended for it to clean up the mess.

“They must also provide a comprehensive report to the minister. There have been a lot of allegations that have been made, especially by Michael Humavindu. He said the report that was provided by the chairperson of the board does not represent the true essence of the institution when it comes to corruption, nepotism and operations of the university,” she said.

Public policy analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the ongoing leakage of council information is a sign of a dysfunctional organisation.

“The issue should not be that because the information has leaked out to the public. The issue is the functionality of the council, whether it will do its job properly … I do not think the extension of the current council will resolve the issue, because we have a divided council. When you have this, the main factors are that you have personal interests, nepotism and corruption. This council is not divided because of principle or on concrete issues. It is divided because of personal agendas. So, I do not think an extension will solve this issue,” he said.