Unesco pursues Kandjii-Murangi over US trip

The Namibia National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which falls under the ministry of higher education, is in hot pursuit of higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi.This after she failed to repay money paid to her for a trip to the United States of America earlier this year to attend an international Unesco event.Confidential documents have now revealed new details about double payments made to the minister by the local office as well as Unesco headquarters, including how the agency has been unsuccessfully trying to recoup some of the money from the minister.Records show that the commission paid over N$22 0000 into Kandjii-Murangi’s personal bank account, and she received another US$1 000 (about N$18 850 at yesterday’s exchange rate) from Unesco headquarters. Both payment were made during March.The funds were meant to cater for her daily subsistence allowance while taking part in a high-level panel discussion, which formed part of a two-day side event at the 67th Commission on the Status of Women in New York on 6 and 7 March. She was accompanied by her personal assistant Lungenesia Uaseuapuami.Kandjii-Murandi was invited by Unesco’s assistant director–general for social sciences Gabriela Ramos, who also gave assurance that the agency would pay for the minister’s travel and accommodation costs.Pay back the moneyUpon her arrival in New York, documents show, Kandjii-Murangi had not received her subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance of US$1 000 from Unesco, which prompted her to reach out to the Namibia National Commission for Unesco in Windhoek to intervene.The commission, which currently operates from the ministry’s office at Government Office Park, speedily processed and transferred N$22 821.52 into her Standard Bank account. This also included S&T for her personal assistant.In a fund transfer request letter seen by this publication, the commission wrote: “This payment is for her DSA [daily subsistence allowance] as well as that of her assistant Lungenesia Uaseuapuami for two days. The money will be reimbursed to the [Namibia National Commission for Unesco] on the return of the honourable minister as well as [her personal assistant]”.However, despite this arrangement, at least three commission officials have confirmed to Namibian Sun that the funds have still not been repaid - three months after Kandjii-Murangi returned.This despite several attempts to force the minister to honour the repayment agreement.The Namibia National Commission for Unesco is allegedly under pressure from the global Unesco headquarters to account for the funds.The commission’s acting secretary-general Waldo Junius yesterday refused to comment, saying “we do not discuss confidential matters in the public domain”.‘Triple-dipped’Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement leader Dr Job Amupanda, who has been accusing Kandjii-Murangi of soliciting travel allowances from institutions in and under her ministry, yesterday alleged that the minister was also separately paid over N$196 000 for the same trip.“On the New York trip, the corrupt minister actually triple-dipped. It is not only Unesco international and Unesco Namibia. The ministry also paid her an advance of N$75 289.72 and N$120 948.82 after she returned,” he wrote on social media yesterday.Speaking to Namibian Sun on Sunday, Kandjii-Murangi denied pocketing money illegally from any institution.Meanwhile, this publication has been reliably informed that while the minister’s trip was only for two days – 6 and 7 March – she stayed in New York until 12 March.According to a source close to the matter, the ministry paid for these additional days, even though her business in New York was over. The ministry promised to issue a statement to clear up these allegations, but had not done so by late yesterday afternoon.The source added that these types of payments are not done by the commission as its funds are strictly used for local projects.Phone calls and text messages to Kandjii-Murangi went unanswered yesterday.The minister, through her lawyer Clive Kavendjii, yesterday wrote a letter to Amupanda, demanding that he delete the accusations he made on social media about her travel allowances.Amupanda, who has been given until today to delete his posts, responded: “I have, in my possession, all letters, payments, SMSes/WhatsApp messages, invoices and correspondences in relation to my principled and determined fight against corruption involving your client”.

Unesco pursues Kandjii-Murangi over US trip

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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Unesco pursues Kandjii-Murangi over US trip

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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