Geingob gets his Volvo, Toyota land cruiser approved

Written by Patience Nyangove
Thursday, 26 November 2009

GOVERNMENT has bowed to pressure to buy a Toyota station wagon Land Cruiser valued at N$900,000 for Swapo Vice-President also Trade Minister Hage Geingob and re-spraying his recently acquired grey official Volvo S80 into black at an estimated cost of N$20,000.



The flamboyant Minister’s Permanent Secretary, Malan Lindique, demanded from Permanent Secretary of Works and Transport, George Simataa, to re-spray the Volvo S80 at a cost of between N$16,000 and N$20 000 and acquire a private number - MTI 01 NA - which is distinct from other Minister’s car registrations.

After Simataa refused to budge to what he considered as unreasonable demands from the Trade Minister, Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi forced Simataa to enforce Geingob’s wish saying, “The current Minister of Trade and Industry is fairly senior to other Ministers given the fact that he was the First Prime Minister of our Republic.”

In his response on 23 September 2009, Simataa says the reason why Geingob’s colour is different from the other Ministers is because “at the time of purchasing the vehicle, the Ministry of Works and Transport was put under pressure by your Ministry”.

Simataa further explains that consultations were made with the Trade and Industry Ministry regarding the grey colour before it was ordered and they agreed to the colour.

“However, should you wish the vehicle to be re-sprayed to a black colour to ensure uniformity with other GRN Volvos, arrangements could be made at the expense of your Ministry,” Simataa says.

The decision to purchase the 4x4 for Geingob, according to documents, was made in March this year by the Ministry of Works and Transport at the Minister’s request.

The documents further reveal that Geingob did not want the standard Toyota double cab bakkie commonly used by other Ministers.

When contacted for comment Geingob professed ignorance over the matter.

“I don’t know anything about it, so you can write what you want. I am tired of Informanté nonsense. You think I am a kid, I am in kindergarten? I drive my personal Land-Rover,” he said.

Although the Minister of Works and Transport Helmut Angula said he did not know anything about the story, he further said there was nothing unusual with Geingob’s request for a 4x4 vehicle.

“I don’t understand what this story is about. There is nothing special with a Minister requesting a Nissan Navara. We had those cars until two years ago before they were replaced with Toyota vehicles because they were found to have many defects,” he said.