Justicia Shipena
Former acting chief executive officer of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), Kennedy Kandume chose not to join the team reintegrated into the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture.
The ministry said Kandume was among three staff members out of 91 who opted out of transferring to the ministry in a personal capacity during the reintegration process.
The ministry’s executive director Mbumba Erasmus Haitengela said the decision was made by Kandume and is respected.
“We appreciate Mr Kandume’s contributions and dedication during his tenure as acting CEO. His leadership and commitment to advancing NSFAF’s mandate are valued, and we thank him for his service,” Haitengela said.
Haitengela said 87 staff members have transitioned to the ministry and that operations at the fund continue without disruption.
He said since 1 March 2026, deputy executive director Lisho Mundia has been assigned to oversee NSFAF operations until a permanent appointment is made.
The clarification follows reports that Kandume had resigned.
When contacted, Kandume declined to comment.
“That is what they are saying; I have no comment,” he told the Windhoek Observer.
He said the ministry’s explanation should be considered sufficient and did not provide further details.
NSFAF was integrated into the ministry earlier this month as part of changes in the administration of student funding.
At the same time, education minister Sanet Steenkamp said the integration has raised concerns among staff, including issues related to remuneration, and that these are being addressed.
She urged employees to continue supporting students during the transition.
The ministry is implementing a subsidised tertiary education funding model, with more than 41 000 students applying for the 2026/27 financial year. Applications are expected to close tomorrow.
Student bodies have raised concerns about the transparency of the reintegration process and have questioned leadership at the fund.
Five years ago, students protested and called for Kandume to step down, citing concerns about how the fund was managed.
