Corruption convict heads to Parliament

Marina Kandumbu, who was convicted of corruption late last year by the Rundu Magistrate’s Court, is set to be sworn in as a parliamentarian on March 20. Kandumbu is number 77 on Swapo’s National Assembly list. She was found guilty of 53 counts of corruption in November last year and was fined N$100 000 or five years in prison. Kandumbu was accused of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, after she rented out a government house to the Angolan Consulate in Rundu. She rented the house out from May 2005 until April 2010, and was paid N$3 500 per month. According to court documents obtained by Namibian Sun, Kandumbu, who was the principal of Dr Romanus Kampungu Secondary School at the time, “wrongfully, unlawfully, directly or indirectly and corruptly used her office or position... to obtain gratification for her own benefit or that of another person by leasing out her government subsidised house at Erf 1452 in Rundu, which is contrary to the government housing scheme rules”. Kandumbu appeared before Magistrate Helen Olaiya, who found her guilty on November 11 last year and sentenced her on the same day. Olaiya fined Kandumbu N$100 000 or five years in prison, of which N$90 000 or four years was suspended on condition that she repays N$87 557, starting on November 27 last year. The last instalment should be paid before June 7, 2017. In terms of the Constitution, Kandumbu can still be sworn in as an MP, despite her corruption conviction. The Constitution only bars criminals who have been sentenced to imprisonment for more the 12 months, without the option of a fine, from being sworn in as MPs. Swapo Secretary-General Nangolo Mbumba said yesterday he only heard about the “accusations” this week and that he hadn’t seen any of the court documents. “When we get the documents, and if it’s indeed true, we will have our legal people check it,” he said. Mbumba said he doesn’t want to jump the gun, as the country and the party have its own laws and rules, which would be adhered to once they get solid legal advice. “If this is really the case, then it will be the most unfortunate,” he said. Kandumbu isn’t new to controversy. In 2011, while she was Dr Romanus Kampungu Secondary School principal, she was investigated for alleged examination fraud and a probe was also launched into financial and administrative matters at the school. She was accused of alleged mismanagement, weak interpersonal relations and poor leadership at the time. She was suspended from her from her duties and assigned to the regional education office on a temporary basis. Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred Ilukena later directed the Kavango Education Director to lift Kandumbu’s suspension. Ilukena further instructed the regional education office to issue a final warning to Kandumbu. WINDHOEK GORDON JOSEPH