Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into the affairs of the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam).
ACC spokesperson Josephina Nghituwamata yesterday confirmed the investigation.
This comes at a time of an ongoing power struggle involving senior officials, such as Nipam’s executive director, Maria Nangolo, Cabinet secretary George Simataa, and Nipam’s finance director, Mino Gariseb.
The Namibian this week reported that Nangolo has accused Simataa of interfering in tenders and the day-to-day management of the institution.
Simataa has denied these suggestions.
“The allegation of interference by the executive director is devoid of any truth,” Simataa said.
In a media statement on Wednesday, Simataa said last month Nipam’s governing council, of which he is the chairperson, enquired about the length of time being taken to finalise the procurement of internal auditors.
He said this followed information from Nangolo, confirmed by a financial consultant and Nipam’s management, that money had been stolen at Nipam.
Simataa did not say how much and whether a case has been opened with the police or the ACC.
He referred The Namibian to Nangolo.
Simataa said there have been instances of payments being made for goods and services without proof of invoices submitted to external auditors.
“These serious irregularities and inability to provide information for the completion of a statutory external audit is a cause for great concern. Thus, the governing council resolved at the meeting on 20 October that an urgent forensic audit be commissioned by the executive director,” he said.
He said the concerns of the governing council are validated by the results of the procurement policy unit audit report on Nipam, which indicated poor compliance and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
He remarked it was evident that Nangolo has a direct conflict of interest in the matter and would possibly not welcome the forensic audit.
On the appointment of finance director Mino Gariseb, who is said to be on probation, as the acting executive director of Nipam, Simataa said the governing council confirmed Gariseb’s probation on 20 October.
He said this resolution was communicated to Nangolo in the meeting on that day, and she was instructed to communicate the confirmation to Gariseb.
However, Nangolo, according to Simataa, only communicated this on Tuesday this week.
“Therefore the allegation that Mino Gariseb was on probation during the time he was acting executive director is false,” Simataa said.
Contacted for comment on Wednesday, Nangolo said there is indeed a violation of the Public Procurement Act by the governing council.
She said she is accused of leaking her letter to the media, which she denied.
“I welcome an investigation if it is warranted,” she said.
Former Nipam executive director Joseph Diescho this week said Simataa runs Nipam “like a private cuca shop”.
Simataa said Diescho is entitled to his own views.
GARISEB ACCUSES NANGOLO
Meanwhile, Gariseb has accused Nangolo of using Nipam vehicles while receiving a vehicle allowance.
Gariseb made this claim in a letter to Nipam board member Theo Mberirua last month.
Gariseb further alleged that Nangolo keeps Nipam’s credit card in her office for her own use.
In an email to Gariseb on 25 October, Nangolo accused Gariseb of misinterpreting facts in his email.
“Having said the above, I need to know how you plan to correct the records by providing a factual account upon which I will pardon you, but failure to do so will leave me with no choice but to exercise my rights,” Nangolo wrote.
ACC spokesperson Josephina Nghituwamata yesterday confirmed the investigation.
This comes at a time of an ongoing power struggle involving senior officials, such as Nipam’s executive director, Maria Nangolo, Cabinet secretary George Simataa, and Nipam’s finance director, Mino Gariseb.
The Namibian this week reported that Nangolo has accused Simataa of interfering in tenders and the day-to-day management of the institution.
Simataa has denied these suggestions.
“The allegation of interference by the executive director is devoid of any truth,” Simataa said.
In a media statement on Wednesday, Simataa said last month Nipam’s governing council, of which he is the chairperson, enquired about the length of time being taken to finalise the procurement of internal auditors.
He said this followed information from Nangolo, confirmed by a financial consultant and Nipam’s management, that money had been stolen at Nipam.
Simataa did not say how much and whether a case has been opened with the police or the ACC.
He referred The Namibian to Nangolo.
Simataa said there have been instances of payments being made for goods and services without proof of invoices submitted to external auditors.
“These serious irregularities and inability to provide information for the completion of a statutory external audit is a cause for great concern. Thus, the governing council resolved at the meeting on 20 October that an urgent forensic audit be commissioned by the executive director,” he said.
He said the concerns of the governing council are validated by the results of the procurement policy unit audit report on Nipam, which indicated poor compliance and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
He remarked it was evident that Nangolo has a direct conflict of interest in the matter and would possibly not welcome the forensic audit.
On the appointment of finance director Mino Gariseb, who is said to be on probation, as the acting executive director of Nipam, Simataa said the governing council confirmed Gariseb’s probation on 20 October.
He said this resolution was communicated to Nangolo in the meeting on that day, and she was instructed to communicate the confirmation to Gariseb.
However, Nangolo, according to Simataa, only communicated this on Tuesday this week.
“Therefore the allegation that Mino Gariseb was on probation during the time he was acting executive director is false,” Simataa said.
Contacted for comment on Wednesday, Nangolo said there is indeed a violation of the Public Procurement Act by the governing council.
She said she is accused of leaking her letter to the media, which she denied.
“I welcome an investigation if it is warranted,” she said.
Former Nipam executive director Joseph Diescho this week said Simataa runs Nipam “like a private cuca shop”.
Simataa said Diescho is entitled to his own views.
GARISEB ACCUSES NANGOLO
Meanwhile, Gariseb has accused Nangolo of using Nipam vehicles while receiving a vehicle allowance.
Gariseb made this claim in a letter to Nipam board member Theo Mberirua last month.
Gariseb further alleged that Nangolo keeps Nipam’s credit card in her office for her own use.
In an email to Gariseb on 25 October, Nangolo accused Gariseb of misinterpreting facts in his email.
“Having said the above, I need to know how you plan to correct the records by providing a factual account upon which I will pardon you, but failure to do so will leave me with no choice but to exercise my rights,” Nangolo wrote.
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