Unam dismisses three managers

THE University of Namibia has fired three senior officials after they were found guilty of theft and fraud.

Those dismissed include the head of the University’s Centre for Public Service Training (CPST), Jerry Tobias, who was suspended in August last year after a preliminary audit by an external firm indicated that some funds had been mismanaged. Tobias was suspended pending a forensic investigation.Unam’s Director of Communications, Edwin Tjiramba, said in a press statement that a disciplinary hearing found Tobias guilty of theft and failing to follow proper procedures.It recommended that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula, dismiss him with immediate effect.Tobias was dismissed on August 1.The CPST provides short modular courses to all levels of managers and administrators.Also found guilty of fraud was the Manager of Unam’s Computer Centre, Kaggere Suresh.Suresh and Unam’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research, Professor Geoffrey Kiangi, were charged with stealing 12 computers worth N$70 000 from the university in March this year.Tjiramba said Suresh was found guilty of fraud, abuse of power and authority and unauthorised use of Unam property for private purposes.Unam dismissed him on July 14.Kiangi resigned after an agreement was reached between him and Unam during a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.Tjiramba said Unam terminated Kiangi’s contract immediately after he resigned and all computer assets were recovered.Of the four other employees suspended last year on allegations of tampering with examination results, Unam had dismissed one, Tjiramba confirmed.He said Sylvester Kaukungua, who was dealing with exam papers, was found guilty of fraud and was dismissed on July 6.The others who faced similar charges were Biola Vries, Goldine Lawrence and Elizabeth Shiponeni.”They were dealt with internally and are still with Unam,” Tjiramba said yesterday.The case against the head of accommodation, Martino Olivier, who was charged with theft after allegedly stealing three DStv decoders, is still pending, according to Tjiramba.Tobias was suspended pending a forensic investigation.Unam’s Director of Communications, Edwin Tjiramba, said in a press statement that a disciplinary hearing found Tobias guilty of theft and failing to follow proper procedures.It recommended that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula, dismiss him with immediate effect.Tobias was dismissed on August 1.The CPST provides short modular courses to all levels of managers and administrators.Also found guilty of fraud was the Manager of Unam’s Computer Centre, Kaggere Suresh.Suresh and Unam’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research, Professor Geoffrey Kiangi, were charged with stealing 12 computers worth N$70 000 from the university in March this year.Tjiramba said Suresh was found guilty of fraud, abuse of power and authority and unauthorised use of Unam property for private purposes.Unam dismissed him on July 14.Kiangi resigned after an agreement was reached between him and Unam during a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.Tjiramba said Unam terminated Kiangi’s contract immediately after he resigned and all computer assets were recovered.Of the four other employees suspended last year on allegations of tampering with examination results, Unam had dismissed one, Tjiramba confirmed.He said Sylvester Kaukungua, who was dealing with exam papers, was found guilty of fraud and was dismissed on July 6.The others who faced similar charges were Biola Vries, Goldine Lawrence and Elizabeth Shiponeni.”They were dealt with internally and are still with Unam,” Tjiramba said yesterday. The case against the head of accommodation, Martino Olivier, who was charged with theft after allegedly stealing three DStv decoders, is still pending, according to Tjiramba.