WINDHOEK – Following several complaints relating to the loan appropriation formula used to fund the studies of students studying at the International University of Management (IUM), the university’s co-owner and Minister of Education David Namwandi has formally asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the matter.
Namwandi said those who allege that his university receives preferential funding from the education ministry do not want IUM to exist and want to portray him as a “corrupt minister”.
Critics have accused Namwandi of using his ministerial position to ensure that students from his university receive preferential treatment when it comes to loans. Some also claim that vocational training centres have been receiving a smaller chunk of the ministry’s financial cake since the birth of IUM.
In a letter dated 22 August 2014 written by Namwandi to ACC Director Paulus Noa, Namwandi said: “Attached please find the letter as it appeared in today’s The Namibian newspaper requesting IUM to be investigated.
“May I kindly request your good office to investigate IUM and verify the allegations levelled against it.”
Speaking to New Era yesterday, Namwandi said: “These claims are nothing but politics being carried out by people who want to portray me as a corrupt minister.
“The people who are making these complaints do not have the country’s interests at heart because they do not want to see the institution growing.”
Namwandi’s request to the ACC was prompted by a letter published in a local daily titled “Investigate IUM Funding.”
In the letter the author claims: “What a disgrace! With developments at the Polytechnic compared to those of the International University of Management, I am astonished to learn that more students of IUM receive Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund funding than those at the Polytechnic of Namibia.
“In addition to this funding, government also pays rent for IUM campuses in town. This definitely calls for an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission,” said Linda Swartz, author of the letter.
Swartz requested the NSFAF to publish the fields and the levels of funding for each institution so that a better evaluation can be made of the situation.
“IUM is described as a big institution – from a small one before the founder became minister. With all the big money they receive, it ‘s no wonder they can continue with construction, appoint foreign consultants,” said Swartz.
“If I had something to hide when it comes to IUM, I would have done so long ago. In fact, when I was appointed to lead the ministry I suggested that the NSFAF be made an independent entity with its own board and secretariat,” Namwandi said.
Namwandi also rubbished claims that by virtue of his position as minister, he has power to influence the loan granting process.
“NSFAF has its own board and secretariat, I do not have any influence in the whole process. This is exactly why I am calling on the ACC to investigate this matter so that it can be cleared once and for all. Somebody is throwing stones but that person is refusing to come out in public,” he said.