Nored hearing date set

THE Nored Board of Directors is to proceed with a disciplinary hearing against its Managing Director, Martin Heita, who has challenged their legality.

Sources told The Namibian yesterday that lawyers for Heita have written to the northern electricity parastatal, suggesting that the board may not have been properly constituted, and therefore did not have the powers to suspend him or to take any other decisions for the corporation. Heita was suspended in June, allegedly because he used company funds to campaign for axed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya, as Swapo’s candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.He was one of Hamutenya’s most visible supporters, especially after the long-serving Swapo leader was fired from Government in what many viewed as a move by President Sam Nujoma to show congress delegates they dare not choose Hamutenya as Nujoma’s successor.Some believe Heita’s suspension is part of a witch-hunt aimed at Hamutenya supporters.Nored Chairman Erastus Uutoni yesterday declined to comment.Heita’s lawyer, Louis du Pisani, at Metcalfe Practitioners yesterday confirmed that they had written to Nored on issues “relating to the appointment of board members, among other things”.Du Pisani said they were still waiting for documents they had requested.The parastatal responded by informing Heita that the disciplinary hearing would proceed non Thursday next week.Heita’s lawyers are expected to argue that the board of directors was not properly set… A recent Nored letterhead lists the board members as chairman Uutoni, lawyer Sackey Akweenda (deputy chairman), Ohangwena governor Billy William Mwaningange, B Hans, Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga, Katahundu Schaike Matundu and Robert Chindo Mapenzi of the Caprivi Regional Council.Information at the Registrar of Companies indicates that Uutoni, Akweenda, Mwaningange, Matundu and Mapenzi have been directors since June 2003.Other people listed as directors at the Registrar are:Petrus Imke Hoogenhout of NamPower, National Planning Commission Permanent Secretary Samuel Hendrik !Goagoseb and Charles Hiskia Tjienda, a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing.The Nored controversy may deepen as the company has only one shareholder – electricity monopoly NamPower.Municipalities, local authorities and regional councils in northern Namibia are not listed as shareholders despite widespread information the corporation publicises that it they owned two-thirds of Nored.Heita was suspended in June, allegedly because he used company funds to campaign for axed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya, as Swapo’s candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.He was one of Hamutenya’s most visible supporters, especially after the long-serving Swapo leader was fired from Government in what many viewed as a move by President Sam Nujoma to show congress delegates they dare not choose Hamutenya as Nujoma’s successor.Some believe Heita’s suspension is part of a witch-hunt aimed at Hamutenya supporters.Nored Chairman Erastus Uutoni yesterday declined to comment.Heita’s lawyer, Louis du Pisani, at Metcalfe Practitioners yesterday confirmed that they had written to Nored on issues “relating to the appointment of board members, among other things”.Du Pisani said they were still waiting for documents they had requested.The parastatal responded by informing Heita that the disciplinary hearing would proceed non Thursday next week.Heita’s lawyers are expected to argue that the board of directors was not properly set… A recent Nored letterhead lists the board members as chairman Uutoni, lawyer Sackey Akweenda (deputy chairman), Ohangwena governor Billy William Mwaningange, B Hans, Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga, Katahundu Schaike Matundu and Robert Chindo Mapenzi of the Caprivi Regional Council.Information at the Registrar of Companies indicates that Uutoni, Akweenda, Mwaningange, Matundu and Mapenzi have been directors since June 2003.Other people listed as directors at the Registrar are:Petrus Imke Hoogenhout of NamPower, National Planning Commission Permanent Secretary Samuel Hendrik !Goagoseb and Charles Hiskia Tjienda, a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing.The Nored controversy may deepen as the company has only one shareholder – electricity monopoly NamPower.Municipalities, local authorities and regional councils in northern Namibia are not listed as shareholders despite widespread information the corporation publicises that it they owned two-thirds of Nored.