Sport, youth and national service minister Agnes Tjongarero has denied allegations that her personal assistant (PA) has used a ticket for the Paris Olympics meant for an ambassador.
Tjongarero and her assistant are the only two ministry representatives who joined the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Friday. They will be in Paris until next Monday.
A source close to the matter told The Namibian Tjongarero’s assistant took the VIP place of Namibian ambassador to France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Monaco, Albertus Aochamub.
“If you are talking about the accreditation she (PA) has, it isn’t meant for the ambassador,” Tjongarero told The Namibian yesterday.
Tjongarero said her assistant has an accompanying ticket, not a VIP ticket.
“Accompanying guest accreditations simply means accompanying guests of the VIP. These accreditations are allocated to the PAs of ministers for ease of movement, seeing that they need to be where their principles are at all times,” Tjongarero said.
She noted that heads of diplomatic missions are not to get VIP tickets, unless their heads of state attend the Olympics.
“Lastly, we were made to understand that ambassadors can only be accredited as VIPs if and when the head of state attends the Olympic Games.
“Further to that, it should be noted that accreditations are done by the NNOC and not the ministry. So whoever informed you should have informed you of the procedures as well,” Tjongarero added.
She emphasised that accreditation is done using a person’s name, with their passport photo and portfolio.
“So, how will my PA take the ambassador’s accreditation, seeing that she’s not an ambassador? The pictures don’t look the same.”
Aochamub said he did attend the opening ceremony and is duly accredited for the games.
“As the embassy of Namibia, we are fully accredited to support the Namibian team,” he told The Namibian yesterday.
Sport executive director Erastus Haitengela yesterday said the minister, her deputy and their assistants are the only representatives from the ministry.
“From the ministry’s side, it is only the minister Tjongarero and her personal assistant Jessica Gaomuses for the first leg, which includes the opening ceremony. This will end with the return of the minister on 5 August.”
For the second leg, as from 8 August up to the closing ceremony, the delegates are deputy minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas and her personal assistant Marvellous Shilongo and maybe one sport officer, Haitengela said.
The rest of the delegates are from NNOC and the embassy.
“The ministry is of the view that we cannot send a big delegation with less than five athletes qualified and participating. The costs will outweigh the benefits,” he said.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
