Prime minister refutes Haufiku’s allegations
It's a ‘he said, she said’ affair between the prime minister and the former health minister amid a huge public fallout.
NAMPA
WINDHOEK
The Office of the Prime Minister has refuted allegations that Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila hung up the phone during a conversation with former health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku.
It also refuted allegations made by Haufiku during a recent interview with a local radio station that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila accused him of making the government look bad because he praised the private sector for making a donation to the health ministry.
During the same interview, Haufiku alleged that the prime minister cut their call short.
According to the media statement released last week, the prime minister raised concern about the closure of the eye clinic at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek without the approval of Cabinet, which was attributed to lack of funds.
“The prime minister also raised concern that no arrangements were made to address the funding problems in a sustainable way, but an announcement was made that the centre was being reopened following a donation, which, as a once-off, was not a sustainable solution to the funding problem at the centre,” the statement read.
‘Absurd’
It further noted that the allegation that government took offence at a donation made to support a public programme is “absurd”, as state laws make provision for the receipt of donations and the state does appeal for donations.
“The claims of jamming the phone in the minister’s ear is devoid of any truth. The prime minister concluded her telephone discussion with the minister properly and informed the minister that she was proceeding to a conference on health issues… It is important to indicate that this case is unrelated to Covid-19 and transpired before the advent of Covid-19 when Dr Haufiku was the health minister,” the statement further read.
‘She knows it’s true’
When contacted for comment last Wednesday, Haufiku said he stands by his words as the prime minister did hang up on him.
He added that he has a text message that he sent to her right after the phone call, complaining about her action.
“I texted her in August when it happened, I still have that text on my phone where I complained about her hanging up in my ear. She knows it’s true. I stand by what I said,” he said.
WINDHOEK
The Office of the Prime Minister has refuted allegations that Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila hung up the phone during a conversation with former health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku.
It also refuted allegations made by Haufiku during a recent interview with a local radio station that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila accused him of making the government look bad because he praised the private sector for making a donation to the health ministry.
During the same interview, Haufiku alleged that the prime minister cut their call short.
According to the media statement released last week, the prime minister raised concern about the closure of the eye clinic at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek without the approval of Cabinet, which was attributed to lack of funds.
“The prime minister also raised concern that no arrangements were made to address the funding problems in a sustainable way, but an announcement was made that the centre was being reopened following a donation, which, as a once-off, was not a sustainable solution to the funding problem at the centre,” the statement read.
‘Absurd’
It further noted that the allegation that government took offence at a donation made to support a public programme is “absurd”, as state laws make provision for the receipt of donations and the state does appeal for donations.
“The claims of jamming the phone in the minister’s ear is devoid of any truth. The prime minister concluded her telephone discussion with the minister properly and informed the minister that she was proceeding to a conference on health issues… It is important to indicate that this case is unrelated to Covid-19 and transpired before the advent of Covid-19 when Dr Haufiku was the health minister,” the statement further read.
‘She knows it’s true’
When contacted for comment last Wednesday, Haufiku said he stands by his words as the prime minister did hang up on him.
He added that he has a text message that he sent to her right after the phone call, complaining about her action.
“I texted her in August when it happened, I still have that text on my phone where I complained about her hanging up in my ear. She knows it’s true. I stand by what I said,” he said.
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