Media come under fire over Nujoma office

THE Ministry of Information and Communication Technology claims the media “misinterpreted” a Cabinet press release on the N$21,6 million for a new office block for former President Sam Nujoma and did it to “suit their own agendas”.

The Ministry faxed a statement on the issue to the media late yesterday – the e-mail connectivity in the ministerial headquarters did not work. “It is regrettable that the media, which dedicated ample space to the construction of the offices for the Founding President, misinterpreted the Cabinet information availed to the public to suit their own agendas,” said Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry in the statement.”The media concentrated on the overspending on the project instead on the fact that Cabinet directed the relevant parties to award the contract to the lowest vetted tenderer.By doing so, the media is ridiculing Cabinet for its decision,” the Permanent Secretary charged.Budgets were not cast in stone, the statement said, and then said that the budget for Nujoma’s new office was spread over three years until the 2010-11 financial year, totalling N$17,2 million.The Namibian wrote exactly that on October 17.”According to the budget book for the 2008-09 financial year, N$15,5 million was allocated for capital expenditure, N$1,3 million in the next financial year and another N$428 000 for 2010-11, totalling N$17,2 million,” The Namibian wrote.According to Ua-Ndjarakana’s press release of yesterday, “adjustments can still be made to foot the bill of N$21,6 million as per the lowest tender.This can be done through switches between specific budget votes or by requesting additional money.”The Permanent Secretary did not however explain the gap between the N$17,2 million and the N$21,6 million.Back in April this year, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, mentioned about N$15 million for the new Nujoma office during the Budget debate in his motivation for the Office of the President.The budget for the former President falls under this vote.”It is regrettable that the media, which dedicated ample space to the construction of the offices for the Founding President, misinterpreted the Cabinet information availed to the public to suit their own agendas,” said Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry in the statement.”The media concentrated on the overspending on the project instead on the fact that Cabinet directed the relevant parties to award the contract to the lowest vetted tenderer.By doing so, the media is ridiculing Cabinet for its decision,” the Permanent Secretary charged.Budgets were not cast in stone, the statement said, and then said that the budget for Nujoma’s new office was spread over three years until the 2010-11 financial year, totalling N$17,2 million.The Namibian wrote exactly that on October 17.”According to the budget book for the 2008-09 financial year, N$15,5 million was allocated for capital expenditure, N$1,3 million in the next financial year and another N$428 000 for 2010-11, totalling N$17,2 million,” The Namibian wrote.According to Ua-Ndjarakana’s press release of yesterday, “adjustments can still be made to foot the bill of N$21,6 million as per the lowest tender.This can be done through switches between specific budget votes or by requesting additional money.”The Permanent Secretary did not however explain the gap between the N$17,2 million and the N$21,6 million.Back in April this year, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, mentioned about N$15 million for the new Nujoma office during the Budget debate in his motivation for the Office of the President.The budget for the former President falls under this vote.