In 2024, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board’s boss, Nangula Uaandja, pocketed nearly half of the N$2.1 million the company spent on travel allowances.
Sources say Uaandja received N$1 million in travel allowances at an agency often criticised for excessive international travel.
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) spokesperson Catherine Shipushu yesterday confirmed to The Namibian that the board spent N$2.1 million on travel allowances for staff members last year.
“Our financial records for that year further indicate that the total funds paid in respect of subsistence and travel (S&T) to all NIPDB officials, including the chief executive officer (CEO) and other executives, for local and international travel amounted to N$2.1 million,” she said.
Sources questioned whether these funds are worth the return on investments.
She also said the board splashed about N$21 million on “promotional events” aimed at attracting foreign investment.
This information comes amid growing criticism that Uaandja and her team have increased international travel, undertaking more than 80 foreign trips in just 18 months.
Uaandja, who also serves as the chairperson of the investment board, is accused of running the investment board like “an empire”.
She denies any wrongdoing.
Uaandja’s dual role as NIPDB chairperson and CEO has been criticised as irregular and lacking transparency. The NIPDB, established in 2021 to support investors and entrepreneurs, also faces allegations of favouritism and misuse of public funds, particularly excessive travel spending.
The NIPDB’s hiring practices have also drawn scrutiny. In 2021, Namibian Sun reported that key positions were given to close associates, described by some as “jobs for friends”.
Last year, Uaandja reappointed Dino Ballotti, a highly paid consultant, after he left First National Bank of Namibia when his inclusion on Swapo’s parliamentary list seemingly made him ineligible for employment there.
She also participates in Cabinet meetings while holding private business interests as chairperson of Momentum Metropolitan Namibia (MMN).
Sources say Uaandja frequently seeks direct intervention from the Presidency, bypassing the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.
Shipushu yesterday defended Uaandja’s Cabinet role, saying it aligns with the board’s governance structure.
The investment board further defended its CEO and its track record, saying the investment pipeline facilitated by the NIPDB grew by 9% to N$175 billion during the 2024 financial year.
“The total value of projects that became operational in Namibia stood at N$2.9 billion, while a further N$24 billion worth of projects was recorded in deployed capital.
“It should be noted that not all investors that engage the NIPDB end up in the pipeline. Some of these investors find local partners with sufficient capacity on the ground to facilitate their activities in the country,” Shipushu said.
‘MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN’
The investment board has participated in various expos across the globe, including five in North America, one in South America, five in Europe, two in the Middle East, nine in Asia, and 13 in Africa.
In 2021, the Namibian government spent over N$20 million to establish a presence at the Dubai Expo, including sending 19 civil servants from various agencies.
These officials spent six months in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) receiving salaries and allowances. The expo took place from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
The delegation of two NIPDB executives arrived at the Dubai expo without an interpreter, making them unable to engage with potential investors.
The NIPDB defended the costs, but members of parliament, including Nico Smit of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), criticised the expenditure.
Smit questioned the return on the N$20 million investment.
He told New Era: “Surely civil servants can promote Namibia to the Middle East more effectively by visiting potential investor countries rather than spending six months away from their duties. What evidence is there that this extended stay – which resembles a glorified holiday – will benefit Namibia, especially with ministries like agriculture, international relations, information and communication, mines and energy, and even the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) participating in the expo?”
Namibian Sun reported that the NIPDB in 2021 defended its decision to send two officials to the UAE for a conference they were not accredited to attend.
In 2023, the NIPDB attended an expo in Brazil, which was described as a disaster after the board allegedly failed to organise an interpreter.
‘CAT AND MOUSE’
Former president Hage Geingob cautioned Uaandja in 2021 against duplicating the functions of the NIPDB and other government ministries, offices, and agencies.
Tensions have since emerged.
Minister of industrialisation and trade Lucia Iipumbu has reportedly expressed frustration over the transfer of investment responsibilities from her ministry to the NIPDB.
She insists that Uaandja should report to her ministry, mirroring standard bureaucratic protocol.
Iipumbu did not want to comment yesterday.
She said: “Who referred you to me? I don’t have a comment.”
She was, however, quoted in Namibian Sun last year, saying her ministry wants the NIPDB under its wing.
“We are now discussing it. It is now on its way to the Cabinet,” she said.
Uaandja, however, has resisted this, preferring to remain directly under the Office of the President.
This disagreement has sparked a power struggle between the two entities, further complicated by delays in passing the Namibia investment promotion and facilitation bill.
The bill is designed to formally regulate the NIPDB.
N$20 MILLION
Speaking to The Namibian last week, Independent Patriots for Change member and incoming member of parliament Imms Nashinge demanded results on the N$20 million which he claimed was spent on the Dubai Expo in 2022.
He cited a lack of visible outcomes.
“While international engagements can play a role in attracting investment, results must justify the expenditure. And we must have a return on the investment. What did the N$20 million spent on the Dubai Expo bring to Namibia, for example?
“And all the many trips taken thus far? To date the lack of visible outcomes such as tangible signed agreements, job creation, or measurable foreign direct investment inflows raises valid questions about the efficacy of these trips,” he said.
Nashinge said the perception of the NIPDB as an “empire of one” is deeply troubling.
He said the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade should manage the investment board.
‘WE DON’T TRAVEL ENOUGH’
Despite the criticism, NIPDB boss Uaandja says increased travel is necessary to attract international investors.
She believes the NIPDB has to travel even more.
“Don’t compare our travelling to local ministries or organisations. Compare us to other similar investment entities in other countries. You will realise that we don’t travel enough to match the investment targets we set out to achieve,” she said in December.
Shipushu defended the S&T figures, saying: “While the CEO participates and usually leads Namibia’s delegations to a number of high-profile and strategic events, she did not participate in most of the events indicated herewith, and was not paid amounts to the tune of N$1.5 million of the NIPDB S&T disbursement,” she said.
Shipushu said Uaandja did not establish the NIPDB’s governance structure, which was already in place when she was appointed.
The entity is overseen by an eight-member advisory board and will transition to a governance model aligned with the Public Enterprises Governance Act.
“Further questions pertaining to this may be directed to the Office of the President or the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, to which the NIPDB is accountable,” she said.
According to Shipushu, the NIPDB prioritises transparency and publishes annual reports detailing its organisational performance, achievements, challenges, sources of funding and expenses.
“These documents are published and accessible on our website. It is important to note that the NIPDB, being a taxpayer-funded organisation, has been subjected to annual audits by an independent audit firm since its inception.
“The reports are included in the organisation’s financial statements available on our website. In this regard, the NIPDB has received unqualified [clean] audits for the past two years,” she said.
Shipushu said the total expenditure on investment promotion missions during the period in question is proportionate to the scale and impact of investments secured.
When compared to the value of grounded investments and the overall growth in foreign direct investments, these expenses represent a strategic investment in Namibia’s economic future.
“As a matter of fact, the NIPDB’s spending on travel, promotional events and foreign investment missions is aligned with its mandate to drive economic growth, attract investment, and enhance Namibia’s global competitiveness”.
*This report was produced by The Namibian’s Investigative Unit. Send us story tips via your secure email to investigations@namibian.com.na us story tips via your secure email to: investigations@namibian.com.na
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