NSFAF drama: Kandjii-Murangi punches back

JEMIMA BEUKESWINDHOEKHigher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi has dismissed allegations that she is turning a blind eye to a string of alleged corrupt activities at the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) as “a bunch of untruths with no credibility”.Whistleblowers at NSFAF have written a damning letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in which they also accuse Kandjii-Murangi of conniving with the current management of the fund.“I really do not want to be drawn into these kinds of things. NSFAF has a board, and so far, they have not found anything untoward.“Some folks are accustomed to using NSFAF as a punching bag, but let me tell you, the board and the exco have worked hard to bring visible reforms. People should stop fixating on projecting past problems,” Kandjii-Murangi told Namibian Sun.The whistleblowers have also made several demands, including that one of NSFAF’s senior managers should be transferred. They have also call on the Central Procurement Board to investigate a number of tenders.The staff members have accused current CEO, Kennedy Kandume, of spending more than N$5 million on consultants to investigate alleged corruption by the previous NSFAF management.They also accused Kandume and his management team of instigating staff to testify against the previous executive led by former CEO Hiliya Nghiwete.“Many of us awoke only when the previous CEO was gone and NSFAF is still embroiled in a crisis regarding the student records and their recovery. We realised that the problem is certain individuals at NSFAF who are paid a lot of money and do not want to do their jobs, and run to the ministry and the board to mislead people. And since they have access to these two key offices, the truth is never known,” the letter said.Many staff members reportedly refused to testify against Nghiwete.Victimisation“Among other things, Mr Kennedy Kandume is victimising the two female colleagues at the finance department because they know much about their corruption,” the letter added.This corruption allegedly includes an amount of N$3 million paid for information technology.The employees also accused some managers of instigating workers to fabricate evidence, by saying that an investment company was brought in based on its relationship with the former CEO.“We are confessing that we were naive and thought we were following a genuine cause, but now it is clear that these mafia men were just securing their positions so that they can do their corruption, and now they want to fire people who differ with them. If we do not stand up, we will [be] next.”‘Not responsible’Kandjii-Murangi said she is not responsible for hiring, transferring and dismissing NSFAF staff.“Human resources matters are the domain of the executive officer, human resources department and the public service commission. Contact them,” she said.Kandume promised to issue a statement, but failed to do so at the time of going to print.jemima@namibiansun.com

NSFAF drama: Kandjii-Murangi punches back

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-17

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NSFAF drama: Kandjii-Murangi punches back

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-17

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