President to break secrecy on latest probe

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma has promised to make public the report of a commission of inquiry into irregularities at the defunct parastatals Amcom and DBC, a move that may be seen as politically motivated against one of his comrades.

Nujoma made the statement at State House in Windhoek yesterday upon receiving an interim report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Affairs, Management and Operations of the Development Brigade Corporation and Amalgamated Commercial Holdings. “To the members of the media,” said Nujoma after the delivery of the interim report, “when the commission of inquiry has completed its work, the results will be made available to the public.”The promise is a major break with the past and could be viewed as politically motivated.None of the reports of commissions of inquiry dealing with parastatals have been made public.The President has so far kept secret the results of investigations into the roads administration agencies, Social Security Commission (SSC), Air Namibia and TransNamib.The inquiry into Amcom and DBC was instituted during the race for Swapo’s presidential candidate, and would be seen as witch-hunt against former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya.Nujoma let it be known that he was against Hamutenya in the race that included the head of state’s preferred candidate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, and Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula.Hamutenya, as Minister for Trade and Industry, presided for a long period over the two failed corporations.He set up DBC, a training and business organisation aimed at integrating former freedom fighters into the job market.Amcom was a subsidiary of the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC), and Hamutenya was at one stage reported to have been personally involved in shutting it down after obtaining Cabinet approval.Closing down Amcom led to a spat with its former managing director, Ben Siambango, who accused Hamutenya of forcing the company to give N$10 million to bogus Italian investors.The Italians never delivered the promised pipe factory in Walvis Bay.They also disappeared with the money.NDC, through which the money was given, has failed to explain what happened to it.The commission indicated it will hold public hearings, but the time and venue are still to be determined.The Chairman of the commission, Magistrate Petrus Unengu said the commission will be preparing for the public hearings by determining which witnesses to call to testify.”To the members of the media,” said Nujoma after the delivery of the interim report, “when the commission of inquiry has completed its work, the results will be made available to the public.”The promise is a major break with the past and could be viewed as politically motivated.None of the reports of commissions of inquiry dealing with parastatals have been made public.The President has so far kept secret the results of investigations into the roads administration agencies, Social Security Commission (SSC), Air Namibia and TransNamib.The inquiry into Amcom and DBC was instituted during the race for Swapo’s presidential candidate, and would be seen as witch-hunt against former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya.Nujoma let it be known that he was against Hamutenya in the race that included the head of state’s preferred candidate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, and Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula.Hamutenya, as Minister for Trade and Industry, presided for a long period over the two failed corporations.He set up DBC, a training and business organisation aimed at integrating former freedom fighters into the job market.Amcom was a subsidiary of the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC), and Hamutenya was at one stage reported to have been personally involved in shutting it down after obtaining Cabinet approval.Closing down Amcom led to a spat with its former managing director, Ben Siambango, who accused Hamutenya of forcing the company to give N$10 million to bogus Italian investors.The Italians never delivered the promised pipe factory in Walvis Bay.They also disappeared with the money.NDC, through which the money was given, has failed to explain what happened to it.The commission indicated it will hold public hearings, but the time and venue are still to be determined.The Chairman of the commission, Magistrate Petrus Unengu said the commission will be preparing for the public hearings by determining which witnesses to call to testify.