Presidency officials use their perks
A quarterly procurement report shows officials have made use of their generous perks to equip their private homes.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
The Office of the President has spent just over N$100 000 on private kitchen equipment, a television and furniture for three of its officials during the first quarter of the current financial year.
A quarterly procurement report released yesterday shows that the presidency paid N$31 470 for kitchen equipment for the presidential youth advisor Daisry Mathias.
It also paid N$17 790 for the installation of air conditioners at her private home.
Mathias yesterday confirmed the procurement, saying it is part of her official benefits.
“This purchase was in line with my furniture allowance condition of service, which is applicable once off, per term of office,” she said.
Mathias is in her second term of office, having been reappointed in the same position in March.
‘Entitled to perks’
The procurement report further stated that official furniture was procured for the private house of the minister in the presidency, Christine //Hoebes, worth N$51 245.
A television set worth N$9 999 was also bought for her private home by the presidency.
//Hoebes was not reachable for comment.
The executive director in the Office of the President, Grace Uushona, said the two officials are entitled to these perks.
“Both the honourable minister and advisor Daisry are members of the Public Office-Bearers (POB) and this is part of their entitlement like any other POB members,” Uushona said.
Cuban, Chinese volunteers gobble up N$56m
The procurement report also indicated that the health ministry paid just over N$56 million for the services of Chinese and Cuban volunteers during the first quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year.
It has also come to light that government paid a whopping N$100 million for blood transfusion services for the 2020/2021 financial year, which is 40% higher than the annual average of N$60 million.
Health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe yesterday explained that these services were acquired through direct procurement.
“With respect to the Cubans, the deployment of the Cuban medical team is based on a unique bilateral agreement only between these two countries. In terms of that agreement, we do make certain payments for services rendered. You cannot have a competitive process because there is no other arrangement,” he said.
He added that Chinese medical personnel also come to Namibia, but no payments are made for them except for accommodation.
With regards the blood transfusion, Nangombe explained that the country has only one blood transfusion service provider.
“The average has been N$60 million since I came, it cannot be a N$100 million for the first quarter. I will have to check. But on the direct procurement, there can be no talk about competition about procurement. Maybe Namibian entrepreneurs must think about establishing a competitor to the Blood Transfusion Services of Namibia,” he said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
The Office of the President has spent just over N$100 000 on private kitchen equipment, a television and furniture for three of its officials during the first quarter of the current financial year.
A quarterly procurement report released yesterday shows that the presidency paid N$31 470 for kitchen equipment for the presidential youth advisor Daisry Mathias.
It also paid N$17 790 for the installation of air conditioners at her private home.
Mathias yesterday confirmed the procurement, saying it is part of her official benefits.
“This purchase was in line with my furniture allowance condition of service, which is applicable once off, per term of office,” she said.
Mathias is in her second term of office, having been reappointed in the same position in March.
‘Entitled to perks’
The procurement report further stated that official furniture was procured for the private house of the minister in the presidency, Christine //Hoebes, worth N$51 245.
A television set worth N$9 999 was also bought for her private home by the presidency.
//Hoebes was not reachable for comment.
The executive director in the Office of the President, Grace Uushona, said the two officials are entitled to these perks.
“Both the honourable minister and advisor Daisry are members of the Public Office-Bearers (POB) and this is part of their entitlement like any other POB members,” Uushona said.
Cuban, Chinese volunteers gobble up N$56m
The procurement report also indicated that the health ministry paid just over N$56 million for the services of Chinese and Cuban volunteers during the first quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year.
It has also come to light that government paid a whopping N$100 million for blood transfusion services for the 2020/2021 financial year, which is 40% higher than the annual average of N$60 million.
Health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe yesterday explained that these services were acquired through direct procurement.
“With respect to the Cubans, the deployment of the Cuban medical team is based on a unique bilateral agreement only between these two countries. In terms of that agreement, we do make certain payments for services rendered. You cannot have a competitive process because there is no other arrangement,” he said.
He added that Chinese medical personnel also come to Namibia, but no payments are made for them except for accommodation.
With regards the blood transfusion, Nangombe explained that the country has only one blood transfusion service provider.
“The average has been N$60 million since I came, it cannot be a N$100 million for the first quarter. I will have to check. But on the direct procurement, there can be no talk about competition about procurement. Maybe Namibian entrepreneurs must think about establishing a competitor to the Blood Transfusion Services of Namibia,” he said.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article