Allexer Namundjembo
The Engineering Council of Namibia’s (ECN) new board members have not yet started their work, a memo issued by the council’s registrar, Charles Mukwaso, revealed on Wednesday.
The members were appointed in August by works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi.
In the memo, Mukwaso said key functions are still being handled by Nekundi.
“The registrar is inundated with queries and enquiries into applications, particularly full registration, among other matters. I have waited long in hope that these pending matters would be expeditiously resolved, but the accumulating queries have led me to issue this,” the memo reads.
Mukwaso asserted that the council or its committees’ decisions prevent the office from fully fulfilling its duties.
“Affected services include applications for full registrations, which, as the Council indicated, the office may receive and facilitate but is unable to finalise. This is the primary reason for the delays,” Mukwaso said.
The memo added that the council has no committees, including registration committees, that would usually handle application approvals and interviews.
“Although my hands are tied for obvious reasons in this regard, I would like to assure all our stakeholders that we remain committed to full service delivery once all matters are normalised.”
The council’s difficulties in carrying out its mandate follow the dismissal of all its previous board members earlier this year.
In June, Nekundi terminated the previous board and appointed new members.
The former board members opposed Nekundi’s decision, describing it as unlawful, disrespectful, and damaging to the country’s regulatory integrity.
In a letter to the minister, the former board, led by then-president Sophia Belete-Tekie, said the removal process was irregular and procedurally flawed.
They claimed the ministry did not send termination letters directly but instead routed them through the registrar, whom they accused of misconduct.
The registrar allegedly forged professional registration documents, paid himself unauthorised salaries, tampered with the ECN database, and misrepresented his position as CEO while he was only the registrar.
A disciplinary hearing reportedly confirmed the allegations but was dismissed on technical grounds because the ministry had not gazetted the council. The process cost the state over N$800 000.
The former board also reported cases of registration fraud, including duplicate certificate numbers, missing documents, and unverified credentials that could affect infrastructure safety.
Belete-Tekie said the former council members had managed to restore financial reporting systems and ensure audit compliance for 2019 and 2020 despite challenges.
The new members of the board are Ndakolute Ndilula, Gert Maritz, Willem Louw, Joseph Sosinyi, Inge Duvenhage, Veikko Shalimba, Dirkie Uys, and returning member Rauna Hanghuwo.
Their alternates are Sirka Pascoal, Jannie Swiegers, Estee Beukes, Oshoveli Hiveluah, Wambomba Singoro, Fillemon Nduvu Nangolo, Truddy Theron-Beukes, and Moses Abisai or Lukas Kudumo Siremo.
