It’s scramble for Chinese scholarships among country’s top brass

Written by Patience Nyangove and Max Hamata
Thursday, 15 October 2009

HIGH ranking Government officials are grabbing educational scholarships offered by China for their children and close relatives, Informanté reveals.

Investigations show that high profile figures ranging from former President and founding Father, Sam Nujoma; current President, Hifikepunye Pohamba; government ministers overseeing procurement of multi-million dollar deals with the Chinese Government; senior military and several government officials are snatching the scholarships which are supposed to benefit mainly students from less privileged families for their children and relatives.

Among those students who left for China in August is Ndapanda Pohamba, the President’s daughter, who commenced studies at the Beijing Language University courtesy of the Chinese government scholarships; Justus Namoloh, Defence Minister’s son who is studying at the Huazhong Normal University; Ernesto Ndeitunga, Nampol Inspector General’s son who is also studying at the Huazhong Normal University; and Phillipus N. Esau, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy’s son who is at Tonji University.

On the list too is Lenna Ya Kasita, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement’s daughter at the Huazhong Normal University Naukalemo Nghimtina, the Minister of Mines and Energy’s daughter; and Patrick Lungameni Mushimba, a relative of the former First Lady, Kovambo Nujoma, studying at the Tonji University.

Some of the students who make part of the twenty-two students on the list whom Informanté could not verify their relationships with the country’s top shots in government and the military at the time of going to press are Kledura N. Imalwa, Loide N. Kamati, Veikko Uahengo and Ndapandula Nuuyoma among others.

Other names whose links with government officials could not be confirmed are: David Iipinge, Selam Utonih, Maria K. Nantana, Loide N. Kamati, Ndakola Tuyakula Anna Nambahu, Veikko Uahengo, Fimanekeni Ndaivela Mhanda, N. Ndapandula Haulenga, Inamutila Mekondjo Kahupi, R. L. Hamayuli, K. G Kampungu, Petrus E. J. Mbadhi, Letha N. Usko, Lukas Nambinga and Ndapandula Nuuyoma.

When contacted for comment, Defence Minister Charles Namoloh said he couldn’t say why mostly high profile figures’ children and relatives including his son Justus had benefitted from the Chinese scholarships.

“I can’t answer that. However, what I know is the scholarships were advertised and my son applied and was called for an interview and offered the scholarship,” he said adding that his son also got a bursary from the education ministry.

Namoloh said the Chinese scholarships were partial scholarships and he had to fork out N$12,000 for air tickets for his son’s trip to China.

Henock Ya Kasita also admitted to Informanté that Lenna was his daughter.

“Yes she is my daughter. She will only come back home after completing her studies in five years’ time.”

The Police Inspector General, Sebastian Ndeitunga also admitted that Ernesto was his son.

“Oh he is my son; he is now studying in China. He went there in August for studies,” Ndeitunga said from Singapore.

Erkki Nghimtina also confirmed that Naukalemo was his daughter, studying on a scholarship from the Chinese Government. He would not say whether it was morally wrong for well-paid ministers to be privileged with scholarships while some of the poor bright children are denied tertiary education because of their economic status.

Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba, expressed shock that many senior government officials’ children were benefiting from the Chinese scholarships.

“These scholarships should mainly benefit students from less privileged backgrounds. We will launch an investigation to find out how this came to be. I will ask the scholarship section,” he said.

“These scholarships should mainly benefit students from less privileged backgrounds. We will launch an investigation to find out how this came to be, I will ask the scholarship section,” Mbumba

A Chinese Embassy official who identified himself as Wong, in charge of scholarships said the Namibian Education Ministry was responsible for the selection criteria of the students.