Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa said the ACC is pursuing allegations of financial misconduct against higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi after allegations were shared on social media by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda.
Noa told The Namibian yesterday that although there is no docket currently against the minister, because the ACC has not established grounds to do so, it is “pursuing information development”.
Amupanda accused the minister of unduly benefiting with around N$1,5 million in travel expenses from three state institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation – the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the University of Namibia (Unam).
He alleged that the minister also claimed money from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Amupanda made the accusations using his social media pages.
Nust spokesperson John Haufiku confirmed to The Namibian on Sunday that the university paid N$140 600 to Kandjii-Murangi for her official trip to Korea.
Haufiku said the payment was approved by Nust management.
However, a Nust management member told The Namibian yesterday that management did not approve the payment to the minister.
The source said the payment was approved by two senior members of the university management.
“Let them give you the minutes of the meeting that approved the payment to the minister.”
The source said other management members only learnt about the payment through Amupanda’s social media posts.
Another source from the university said management did not discuss the payment, after the request was made to the university by the ministry for funds to pay for the minister’s travel expenses.
The source said the approval was made by an acting vice chancellor, while vice chancellor Erold Naomab was away.
The source also said the ministry has since refunded Nust.
“It was a legitimate conference which the minister attended.”
LEGAL ACTION
Meanwhile, Kandjii-Murangi has threatened to sue Amupanda for alleged defamation of character.
Kandjii-Murangi made the threats in a letter from her lawyer, Clive Kavendjii of Kangueehi and Kavendjii Incorporated, to Amupanda yesterday.
Kavendjii said Amupanda portrayed the minister as unscrupulous and corrupt and having enriched herself at the expense of taxpayers by failing to meet her financial obligations to the Development Bank of Namibia, and by receiving monies from various institutions of higher learning without just cause.
Kavendjii also said Amupanda’s posts were intended to be understood by the readers to mean that Kandjii-Murangi is a corrupt person, a person with low morals, and a selfish person who only considers her own interest above the citizen’s interest.
He said Amupanda suggested in his posts that the minister is unfit and unworthy of being appointed as a minister in the government.
“It is our further instructions that the false suggestions, innuendos, insinuations and statements were made wrongfully and unlawfully – with the sole purpose and intention to achieve maximum damage and harm on the reputation and dignity of our client in the eyes of right-thinking members of the community in Namibia and around the world,” Kavendjii said.
Kavendjii demanded that Amupanda issue a public apology and retraction to Kandjii-Murangi before the end of day today, and desist from making further defamatory statements about her.
“Take note that failure to heed the aforesaid demands, we regret to inform you that this time around our client shall bring urgent legal action against you in the High Court in order to protect her rights and seek appropriate remedies available in law,” Kavendjii noted.
In his response to Kavendjii, Amupanda said he intends to ensure the allegations of corruption against the minister are dealt with by all institutions involved, including the ACC and the courts.
He also said he has all the documentation to support his statements.
“I have, in my possession, all letters, payments, SMSes/WhatsApp messages, invoices and correspondence in relation to my principled and determined fight against corruption involving your client,” Amupanda said.
“I stand ready to share with you this information if you require this for the purposes of making a determination with regards to the issues I have raised,” he said.
Presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari told The Namibian on Sunday that president Hage Geingob will act if the accusations against the minister are proven.
“If they are substantive, there is an ACC which can step in. At that point the appointing authority, the president, steps in to either remove a minister, as done with other two ministers who were dealt with in that fashion,” Hengari said.
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