Namibian, Windhoek

ECB whistleblower sets record straight
Dear Editor,

I FEEL obliged to respond on the article carried by Informanté on 14 June 2007 under the heading ‘ECB chief fires whistleblower”, in order to put facts in the right perspective.
I am the fired Electricity Control Board (ECB) accountant. It is true that I went to the Minister. That seemed to have been the only platform available at the time. One time earlier, when I could not agree with Mr Simasiku, I asked him if I could have audience with the Board to explain my side of the story. Mr Simasiku told me that there was no such a procedure in the staff policy, which was also true.
 It is implied in the article that I was fired for having told the Minister about Mr Simasiku’s trail of illegal activities but why is he not saying so? Why is he hiding behind a retrenchment? Only cowards do that.
 I did not and have not been receiving any salary as reported.
 I want to add and emphasise however that Mr Simasiku is sustained by the company debit card that is linked to the only company bank account as he has decided to defy the recommendations of the auditors against the use of it, because it defies the norm of having two signatories authoring any deduction as per policy. It is doubtful if the Board of directors has gone contrary to the auditors’ recommendations and in fact ratified the use of such debit card. I believe the card is used for personal use.
It was interesting to note Mr Simasiku’s comment to Informanté that he borrows instead of stealing. A noble stance in deed. His stealing definition is however inconsistent with the dictionary meaning. Why would the Board make him pay back money lent to him ordinarily other than allowing the normal lending process to run its course? 
 
Mr. A. Hangula

Dear Editor,

What seems to have been an attempt by the former Mayor of Ondangwa, Prisscila Kauna Nashandi, to clarify the Ondangwa Trade Fair cc, has brought many questions to mind.
Did she knowingly abuse her position to personally benefit from the Ondangwa Town Council?  Is she admitting that she is incompetent, ignorant or professionally corrupt?  How many husbands of the shareholders were having stands at the 2006 Trade Fair?  Why was the trade fair preparation for 2007 put on hold if there is nothing sinister?
During the week of June 11-15, Nashandi used the print media to comment on, among others, as follow: “The Ondangwa Trade Fair cc is a private business entity”.  Why did the shareholders, who are business literate, not know about it? 
Nashandi’s reaction is mostly referred to the shareholders who are aggrieved and some have since resigned.  If it is a private venture who is the owner now?  “This is what happened: I signed on the dotted line of the registration form, in my capacity then, as a mayor, for my Town Council’s shares.  I left the filling-in of the rest of the form to my official… one day, my deputy called me into his office.  He told me that rumour is that Ondangwa Trade Fair cc is 55% mine … He showed me the form where it indeed appeared as such.  I discovered that the official who completed the form had filled-in the space- “Priskilla Nashandi”, instead of “Priskilla Nashandi representing Ondangwa Town Council”.  I do not know who this official is …” What does the then Mayor know?  At that time, what was supposed to be her and her husband’s shares?  How many blank forms and cheques has she signed as a Mayor?  
I believe she must have known that “that” form is meant for “individual completion” otherwise there would have been the jumbled up names.  For Mrs Nashandi to represent a town in a “private business” while she is a Mayor qualifies her for a conflict of interest which is corruption.  “It is true that the Dogg’s quote was higher than others.  Coca-cola graciously agreed to sponsor the event and among the quotations at hand, accepted the Dogg’s – the higher quotation…” Were you (Mrs Nashandi) not surprised or have you not become suspicious of a questionable deal that “smells” favouritism? 
Coca-cola must come clean, publicly, on this one.  The criteria must be exposed for the public scrutiny.  “We” know some of the Coca-cola managers! “The Trade Fair has a cheque account.  Each cheque requires at least two signatures.  No cheques of such amount (N$250 000) went through the account.
Further, the takings from the gate, registration fee or from any other source/event had people appointed as responsible personal of them from the Finance Department of the Ondangwa Town Council…”  Is this an admission that the Town Council resources were used on private business?  Can the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) step in?

Disgruntled resident,
Ondangwa