Justicia Shipena
Former top officials at the Ministry of Health are not part of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s current investigation into the mismanagement of medicine tenders.
ACC director general Paulus Noa told the Windhoek Observer that neither former health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula nor former executive director Ben Nangombe is under investigation.
“We have nothing that we are investigating, Dr. Shangula. There’s no such investigation going on around here. We also don’t have a file against the former executive director Ben Nangombe. As far as I know, there was no report that has been submitted to me concerning Nangombe,” Noa said.
This comes as the ACC this week said it had intensified investigations into the alleged mismanagement of over N$600 million in medicine tenders, some dating back to 2019.
Shangula was appointed by former president Hage Geingob in December 2018 and retired in March this year. Nangombe headed the ministry’s administrative arm for seven years before being reassigned to the ministry of industries, mines and energy and later moved to the office of the prime minister.
Former health minister Bernard Haufiku told The Namibian this week that he had submitted files to the ACC during his term in office.
These reportedly included allegations of inflated drug prices, collusion between staff and suppliers, and irregular procurement practices.
Noa confirmed that Haufiku had submitted complaints to the ACC.
“There was a time he approached the ACC with certain complaints. Some of the complaints were generally administrative, and some focused on the manner that the procurements were being done in the ministry of health,” Noa said.
He added that some of the issues were investigated while others remain under review.
“We carry out investigations to get substance and act on proven evidence. If we don’t find evidence today but find it tomorrow, we pursue the matter further. That’s how it works.”
Three weeks ago, the health ministry told the Windhoek Observer that it had spent over N$54.8 million on emergency procurement due to delays by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN).
However, Noa could not confirm whether the ACC had investigated cases related to health tenders during the 2019 and 2020 period without checking the case management system.
He stressed that the ACC registers all complaints it receives.
“We don’t reject complaints. The Anti-Corruption Act says we have to receive them. If the issue is not relevant to the ACC, we refer it to the authority that is supposed to deal with it.”
Haufiku also said medical supplies sold to the government during his time were overpriced by up to 300%.
Media reports show that in 2016, the ACC arrested eight staff members from the ministry, including a nurse, an accountant, and cleaners, for submitting over N$2 million in fraudulent overtime and lodging claims.
When approached by the Windhoek Observer, Shangula dismissed suggestions that he was under investigation.
“I am no longer there. There are new people there, so they can answer those questions,” he said.
Asked whether corruption concerns relating to medical tenders were brought to his office during his time and whether he had submitted files to the ACC, Shangula declined to comment.
“I’m not inclined to answer those questions and that is my answer,” he said.
