Written by Patience Nyangove
Thursday, 11 February 2010
UNIVERSITY of Namibia, Vice Chancellor Professor Lazarus Hangula and his senior management allegedly embezzled N$5-million meant for the Masters Programme in Public Administration and are allegedly employing expatriates at the expense of equally or better qualified Namibians.
The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda who made the allegations also accused Unam of unprocedurally employing people in senior management positions.
Efforts to get a comment from Unam proved fruitless as the university’s public relations officer, Utaara Hoveka, said it was impractical for Informanté to get a response from them yesterday (Wednesday) as they needed time to consult.
Hangula was said to be out of office until next week with his mobile going on voice mail.
In his damning letter to Unam Chancellor and Namibia’s Founding Father, Dr Sam Nujoma dated 4 February 2010, Kaaronda alleges NUNW “independently confirmed that the university management had failed to account for about N$5-m lost in the MPPA program”.
“We are informed and have independently confirmed that the university management had failed to account for about N$5 million lost in the MPPA program. While some committed Namibians employed by the University including the director of this program had requested for a forensic audit so as to help bring those found wanting to book, the University management in a very suspicious and dubious manner only chose to pay back the money to the donor instead of heeding the advice of the director and others,” Kaaronda wrote to Nujoma.
He further alleged that money used by the University management to pay back the stolen funds was allegedly taken from the coffers of the university short changing Namibian students in the process.
“It is apparent that the Vice Chancellor is either not interested to properly serve our people with the required sense of diligence and care,” Kaaronda wrote.
In the same letter, Kaaronda states that the university recorded a deficit of approximately N$12 million in 2006 and the situation has been deteriorating ever since.
Kaaronda claims Unam management has over the years continued building and constructing projects without subjecting them to tender.
He also accused Unam senior management of filling six senior positions without either advertising the vacant positions internally or externally.
“These positions are a) director: human resources b) director: estate services c) director language centred) director Unam central consultancy bureau e) Unam legal advisor. Other two positions which were appointed in a similar fashion are those of special advisor to the vice chancellor and that of strategic planner. To further buttress our point on administrative discretion used to achieve the wrongs ends, we wish to point out a case that relates to the Registrar of the University who in addition to his office responsibilities was appointed to act as the director of the Computer Centre, a position for which he is not trained or qualify to hold ,” Kaaronda wrote.
The NUNW leader also queried why expatriate contracts are extended in contravention of the immigration requirements guiding appointments and retention of foreign workers.
“The Vice Chancellor has repeatedly overruled relevant committees of the university to promote expatriates of professors in situations where they failed to fulfil the university criteria as set out in the Unam promotions policy.”
Unam Governing Council chairperson, Filemon Amaambo refused to comment on the issue saying he was not comfortable in conducting telephone interviews and that he does not respond to rumours.
Kaaronda admitted writing the letter to the Founding Father after NUNW was approached by the Namibia National Teachers Union.
“Yes it’s true we were approached by NANTU and we communicated our concerns to the Chancellor.”
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Alfred Ilukena, said his office has not yet received or heard about the letter written to Nujoma or any of the allegations being levelled against Hangula.
The Founding Father’s personal assistant John Nauta confirmed that Nujoma received the letter but refused to comment on the issue saying he was out of the country last week
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