The University of Namibia has confirmed that the university paid N$310 400 for travel expenses to higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi in July last year.
University spokesperson Simon Namesho told The Namibian on Monday that the money was paid upon an official request.
“The Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation has reimbursed the full amount to the University by the end of November 2022,” Namesho said.
He added that at the time of the payment request, the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation could not reallocate money in its budget to cover the minister’s travel and subsistence allowance.
“The university carefully reviewed the request, ensuring that all necessary measures and processes were in place, before the requested funds could be disbursed,” he said.
The request to Unam was made in the same month that the ministry submitted a request for N$140 600 to the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).
The funds from Nust were to cover an official trip to Korea by Kandjii-Murangi.
Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda has accused the minister of unduly gaining about N$1,5 million in travel expenses from three state institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation.
The institutions are the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), Nust and the University of Namibia (Unam).
Amupanda further alleged that the minister claimed money from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
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