NDF company scoops N$255m classroom tender

The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has contracted the Namibian Defence Force company August 26 Construction to build classrooms and ablution facilities at public schools countrywide to the tune of N$255,5 million.

Over the years, the books of August 26 could not be made public as it was said it would compromise state security.

Minister of education, arts and culture Anna Nghipondoka last Tuesday at Keetmanshoop said the ministry is well aware of the shortage of classrooms across the country and the negative impact it has on teaching and learning due to overcrowding.

Nghipondoka said as of the end of last year, the total number of classrooms needed across the country stood at over 4 000.

“Nonetheless, the ministry has secured N$255 million to construct 510 classrooms and 70 ablution blocks, through August 26 Construction within a period of three months,” she said.

This follows an indication by the executive director of education, Sanet Steenkamp, in January when she said the ministry is in talks with August 26 to ensure their partnership to build classrooms is realised without delay after a directive by president Hage Geingob.

Geingob called for the acceleration of plans to construct classrooms in partnership with August 26 after a delegation from the education ministry, led by Nghipondoka and senior leaders, met with him to present a report detailing the poor academic performance of the 2022 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) levels.

Steenkamp said August 26 is a public entity, and that the Procurement Act makes provision for the state to engage public entities.

“At this point, we are still consolidating the needs arising from the regions. We are also in discussion with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises. We know the bill on the national budget has not been appropriated yet.

“However, as soon we have consolidated all the needs and entered into all the discussions and reached solutions, we can share information with you,” New Era has quoted Steenkamp as saying.

Opposition parties have been calling for accountability of August 26 through the auditing of its books to determine how the NDF-owned company has been utilising public resources over the years.

Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani challenged Swapo members of parliament in 2021 to publicly audit August 26 and address allegations of corruption levelled against the company.

“Open the books of August 26. If you claim your government is not tainted by corruption and were [sic] not involved in the Fishrot corruption scandal in particular, this excuse of compromising state security must be dismissed in the name of transparency and accountability, because it’s public monies,” he said at the time.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, colonel Petrus Shilumbu, who confirmed the tender, said the books of August 26 are open for auditing purposes and are being audited.

“Currently, as we speak, the Office of the Auditor General is busy with our 2021/22 financials, and are in preparation of the 2022/23 financials so we can account for public spending,” he said.

“This thing of August 26 companies not being open for auditing is not factual any more. The companies’ books are being audited,” Shilumbu said.

Auditor general Junias Kandjeke was provided access to the company’s books for the 2019/20 financial year, and he gave the company a qualified audit opinion, but reported that there was cross-subsidisation of salaries amounting to over N$3 million from the state, while August 26 and the state reportedly had no relationship.

August 26 Construction is a subsidiary of August 26 Holdings, which is a 100% government-owned company.

The defence ministry is the shareholder on behalf of the Namibian government.

In the Khomas region, the company is expected to build 84 classrooms and nine ablution blocks at a cost of N$40,8 million, in the Erongo region 51 classrooms and nine ablution facilities at a cost of N$33,7 million, 58 classrooms and 12 ablution facilities at a cost of N$29,6 million in the Oshana region, and 58 classrooms and three ablution blocks for N$23,6 million in the Oshikoto region.

The company is also expected to build 46 classrooms and nine ablution blocks in the Ohangwena region at a cost of N$23,1 million, 41 classrooms and six ablution blocks costing N$21,8 million in the Kavango West region, 13 classrooms and two ablution blocks for N$7 million in the //Kharas region, and 24 classrooms and two ablution blocks for N$10,3 million in the Hardap region, among others.