Justicia Shipena
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare has told the interim Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) Council that he will not interfere in its internal affairs.
This was confirmed by Nust council chairperson, Leake Hangala, who told the Windhoek Observer that Ngurare met with the council delegation this last week to be briefed on recent developments at the institution.
“It was a cordial, open, and transparent meeting, and he made it very clear that he is not interfering in the affairs of the Council,” Hangala said.
He explained that the discussion centred on governance and procedure.
“The prime minister is responsible for public governance and public servants. He just wanted to be briefed on what really happened and what procedures were followed,” Hangala said.
The meeting followed reports that Ngurare had summoned the council to explain the decision to suspend vice-chancellor Erold Naomab, whose contract ends on 31 December 2025.
Reports in the Namibian Sun suggested senior government officials had criticised the council’s move as “trigger-happy” and “unnecessary.”
Hangala said the engagement was professional and constructive but declined to share further details about the discussion.
Last week, the council appointed an external firm to conduct a forensic investigation into allegations of mismanagement against Naomab.
The council said the decision was made to ensure an independent and transparent process after claims emerged implicating the university’s leadership.
The development came after a 40-page dossier surfaced online in August, accusing Naomab and senior officials of irregular procurement, reckless spending, and abuse of authority.
The document, addressed to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa, also alleged that Nust had not produced audited financial statements since 2019.
The dossier further claimed nepotistic appointments, inflated contracts, and favouritism in tenders. It also mentioned a N$30 million “rebranding” project handled by a department without a communications mandate and the purchase of a luxury bus disguised as a secondhand vehicle.
It alleged that Naomab was lobbying for reappointment beyond 2025 with support from Nust chancellor Peter Katjavivi and that former higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi benefited from university resources.
Nust previously dismissed the corruption claims in anonymous letters circulating on social media, saying it would not act on unverified allegations. Despite that, the council later placed Naomab on precautionary suspension, effective 8 October 2025.
Whistleblowers behind the dossier had called for immediate suspensions and a forensic probe by the ACC, warning that failure to act would damage the university’s credibility. The ACC confirmed at the time that no formal complaint had been filed.
Noa later urged the whistleblowers to submit sworn statements if their claims were genuine.
In 2023, employees at the time accused Nust management of violating the Labour Act, the university’s human resource code, and governance principles during a restructuring process.
Naomab, who took office in 2021, has faced several controversies during his tenure, including allegations of interference in recruitment and procedural breaches.
Caption
Leake Hangala
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare
- Photos: Contributed
