Unesco not seeking Kandjii-Murangi refund

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has clarified that it is not seeking any payment from higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, after it paid for her trip to New York, USA, in March.

Namibian Sun reported this week that the Namibia National Commission for Unesco (Natcom) stepped in to pay for Kandjii-Murangi’s allowance in the USA after payment from Unesco itself was delayed.

Kandjii-Murangi was expected to reimburse Natcom once she received her daily subsistence allowance from Unesco, which invited her to the USA.

This newspaper reported that Natcom was under pressure to account for funds advanced to the minister, which had not been paid back since March.

The Unesco office, however, said it is not involved in the matter, because Natcom is not part of its structures.

“Unesco wishes to clarify that it has not pursued the minister regarding any reimbursement of the DSA [daily subsistence allowance] which was paid to the minister in accordance with United Nations rules and procedures,” the organisation said in a statement yesterday.

“Unesco wishes to take this opportunity to clarify the role and function of the Unesco office in Namibia, and that of [Natcom]. While working together, the Unesco office and [Natcom] are two independent bodies. The Unesco office in Namibia is part of the Unesco Secretariat, an intergovernmental organisation of 194 member states, with its headquarters in Paris, France.”

“[Natcom] is established by the government of Namibia. It is a national entity which operates under national regulations, and is located at the Government Office Park in Windhoek.”