Army makes N$200 000 in fines from AWOL soldiers
Discipline lacking, despite improvement
Less than two months before he died, then commander-in-chief Hage Geingob implored the military to nip incidents of ill-discipline in the bud.
The defence and veterans affairs ministry made revenues of over N$200 000 from fines issued against members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) who had been absent from work without official leave.
This is according to a 2023 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General, which also noted that the ministry overstated its revenue by over N$2 million.
According to the report, the ministry issued fines to the tune of N$207 278 on account of members of the NDF not being at work without authorisation.
The ministry anticipated a higher figure in its projections, but there were fewer discipline issues among staff members during the period under review, the probe found. “This reduced revenue was due to a reduction of fines arising from [members being] absent without official leave, together with the overall increased discipline of military staff members. Hence, less revenue from fines was collected than originally anticipated,” it read.
Discipline
Just in December 2023, late president and then commander-in-chief of the military Hage Geingob cautioned against ill-discipline in the NDF, saying such incidents need to be addressed as soon as they occur.
''Discipline is the catalyst for professionalism. It is the soul of the defence force.
“I am informed that there are several cases of indiscipline being reported in the NDF. Some of these cases have appeared in the media. It is imperative that we summarily nip these type of incidents in the bud.''
Meanwhile, the ministry also overestimated the revenue it was due to receive from international peace-keeping missions to the tune of N$2.2 million, resulting from limited participation on the part of the NDF.
“This reduced miscellaneous revenue was mainly because [the ministry] expected an increase in United Nations peace-keeping operations for the provision of staff officers and military observers, however, only limited participation was possible during the financial year under review,” the report read.
August 26 subsidiary holding N$100m
The audit report also listed the ministry’s bank accounts locally and internationally, with August 26 subsidiary Ndilimani Pyrotechnics Industries holding over N$100 million in a local bank account.
In 2021, the ministry had to explain to the public accounts committee of parliament why it transferred N$5 million to Ndilimani for the purchase of weapons, which was done without treasury approval.
Other significant holdings listed include ¥1.42 million (N$3.7 million) and US$318 568 (N$6 million) held in a Bank of China account, a holding of US$119 903 (N$2.27 million) in a Uni Credit Bank account in sanctions-hit Russia, BWP1.04 million (N$1.44 million) in a FNB Botswana account and €117 557 (N$2.4 million) in a Banco Metropolitana account in Cuba.
Overall, the ministry was able to receive an unqualified audit from the auditor-general.
This is according to a 2023 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General, which also noted that the ministry overstated its revenue by over N$2 million.
According to the report, the ministry issued fines to the tune of N$207 278 on account of members of the NDF not being at work without authorisation.
The ministry anticipated a higher figure in its projections, but there were fewer discipline issues among staff members during the period under review, the probe found. “This reduced revenue was due to a reduction of fines arising from [members being] absent without official leave, together with the overall increased discipline of military staff members. Hence, less revenue from fines was collected than originally anticipated,” it read.
Discipline
Just in December 2023, late president and then commander-in-chief of the military Hage Geingob cautioned against ill-discipline in the NDF, saying such incidents need to be addressed as soon as they occur.
''Discipline is the catalyst for professionalism. It is the soul of the defence force.
“I am informed that there are several cases of indiscipline being reported in the NDF. Some of these cases have appeared in the media. It is imperative that we summarily nip these type of incidents in the bud.''
Meanwhile, the ministry also overestimated the revenue it was due to receive from international peace-keeping missions to the tune of N$2.2 million, resulting from limited participation on the part of the NDF.
“This reduced miscellaneous revenue was mainly because [the ministry] expected an increase in United Nations peace-keeping operations for the provision of staff officers and military observers, however, only limited participation was possible during the financial year under review,” the report read.
August 26 subsidiary holding N$100m
The audit report also listed the ministry’s bank accounts locally and internationally, with August 26 subsidiary Ndilimani Pyrotechnics Industries holding over N$100 million in a local bank account.
In 2021, the ministry had to explain to the public accounts committee of parliament why it transferred N$5 million to Ndilimani for the purchase of weapons, which was done without treasury approval.
Other significant holdings listed include ¥1.42 million (N$3.7 million) and US$318 568 (N$6 million) held in a Bank of China account, a holding of US$119 903 (N$2.27 million) in a Uni Credit Bank account in sanctions-hit Russia, BWP1.04 million (N$1.44 million) in a FNB Botswana account and €117 557 (N$2.4 million) in a Banco Metropolitana account in Cuba.
Overall, the ministry was able to receive an unqualified audit from the auditor-general.
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