C'wealth controversy 'storm in a tea cup'

By: LINDSAY DENTLINGER

MINISTER of Sport John Mutorwa yesterday moved to try and smooth over reports that Namibian boxers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games team stole items from their accommodation in Melbourne, Australia.

Other than "mistakenly" taking two bed sheets that were later

returned, the team members did not make off with any item they

weren't entitled to as a souvenir, Mutorwa announced to the

National Assembly yesterday.

He provided MPs with copies of reports from the Commonwealth

Games 2006 Chef de Mission Joan Smit, General Team Manager Alna

Similo and Boxing Team Manager Ambrosius Kandjii on the inventory

inspection carried out before the team left their accommodation in

Melbourne.

 

The reports were requested in the wake of a report in The

Namibian three weeks ago on allegations of theft of linen,

toiletries and glass shelves from the athletes' bungalows.

 

Mutorwa yesterday alleged that the report in this newspaper did

not include comments on the matter from any of the officials who

accompanied the athletes, saying it was "strange and questionable"

that this was not done.

 

However, both Kandjii and Similo confirmed to The Namibian at

the time that items had been taken but said that these had later

been returned.

 

Kandjii told the newspaper that the matter had been resolved,

while Similo said a report on the matter would be compiled and

confirmed that there was an incident of missing items and that

athletes had put their clothing up for sale so they could purchase

other items.

 

Both now appear to be giving a more sanitised version of the

incident.

 

According to a report by Smit submitted to Mutorwa on Wednesday

this week, she says the final inventory and inspection of the

Namibian team found that two white sheets had been removed from one

of the houses, some plastic bath mats and a chair.

 

"The chair and bath mats were recorded after a recount by

myself, two volunteers and one of the allotment officers, and the

sheets, which I believe were mistakenly removed, were quickly

recovered," said Smit.

 

She did not say where these sheets were recovered.

 

Smit said that before the team left Namibia for the Games, she

informed them that they would be allowed to take the duvets they

were provided with as a souvenir.

 

"It would have been easily misunderstood that this meant all the

bedding," Smit's report says.

 

"At the airport I was aware that many rumours had developed

amongst the team about what had happened at the inventory.

 

I can assure you that these rumours were unfounded."

 

Reports have been requested from the volunteers who conducted

the inventory checks and from the Commonwealth organising

committee, and are still being awaited.

 

"It would be a great shame if the medal winners for Namibia were

denied their due congratulations and respect for their dedication

and hard work, because of reports by the press which have no basis

in fact," said Smit.

 

Mutorwa said he was satisfied that all three reports contained a

similar explanation of the incident that gave rise to the

allegations of theft against the team.

 

He said unless it could be proven otherwise, he endorsed the

explanations given by Smit, Similo and Kandjii and said the

incident should not mar the medal-winning performances of boxer

Jafet Uutoni, who won gold, and Friedhelm Sack, who won bronze for

pistol shooting.

 

In the wake of the theft allegations, President Hifikepunye

Pohamba put on hold a special ceremony to recognise the performance

of the Commonwealth team.

 

"For anyone who still holds the view that an act of wrongdoing

was committed, I say: to err is human, to forgive is divine," said

Mutorwa.

 

In a letter to the President of the Namibia Boxing Federation

Kelly Nghixulifwa, Kandjii says that the sheets of three of the

beds slept in by the boxers were found to be missing during the

inventory check.

 

"As the team manager I was informed about the situation by one

of the volunteers.

 

I instructed the boxers to take back the bed sheets, as the bed

sheets were not part of the items earmarked as souvenirs.

 

The goods were given back immediately and put on the beds," said

Kandjii's letter.

 

"I presume there was a misunderstanding of what items provided

were to be taken as souvenirs after the Commonwealth Games."

 

Kandjii further denied that any of the boxers under his charge

went on a "poverty or begging plea" from the Australian public.

 

Kandjii said none of the boxers had sold their clothing.

 

"I further declare that since the incident was resolved and not

of high importance, it was not reported to the General Team

Manager, Mrs Similo, or the chef de Mission, Mrs Smit," said

Kandjii.

 

In Similo's report, she claims that the Australian staff

assigned to assist the Namibian team had offered to pay for items

the Namibians had to offer as souvenirs such as pins, ties, scarves

and clothing because they had no items to exchange them for.

 

Similo said a meeting of team managers to discuss exchange

transactions resolved that the exchange of items could only take

place after the closing ceremony on March 26 and that athletes were

not allowed to exchange their main tracksuit, a T-shirt and a

warm-up top, as they were required to wear them during travel to

maintain the Namibian identity, brand and image.

 

"The exchange of items was blown out of proportion according to

the newspaper article, as various codes made use of the offer,"

said Similo.

 

"To my knowledge many Namibians, including officials, exchanged

items at no cost as a gesture of friendship and gratitude."

 

Similo said while she and athletes waited on the bus during the

inspection on the day of their departure, she was informed that the

rooms were being re-checked.

 

She said she left the bus to find out from Smit what was causing

the delay, and was informed that the inventory and paperwork had

been completed, despite some re-checks that were required and

completed satisfactorily.

 

 

He provided MPs with copies of reports from the Commonwealth Games

2006 Chef de Mission Joan Smit, General Team Manager Alna Similo

and Boxing Team Manager Ambrosius Kandjii on the inventory

inspection carried out before the team left their accommodation in

Melbourne.The reports were requested in the wake of a report in The

Namibian three weeks ago on allegations of theft of linen,

toiletries and glass shelves from the athletes' bungalows.Mutorwa

yesterday alleged that the report in this newspaper did not include

comments on the matter from any of the officials who accompanied

the athletes, saying it was "strange and questionable" that this

was not done.However, both Kandjii and Similo confirmed to The

Namibian at the time that items had been taken but said that these

had later been returned.Kandjii told the newspaper that the matter

had been resolved, while Similo said a report on the matter would

be compiled and confirmed that there was an incident of missing

items and that athletes had put their clothing up for sale so they

could purchase other items.Both now appear to be giving a more

sanitised version of the incident.According to a report by Smit

submitted to Mutorwa on Wednesday this week, she says the final

inventory and inspection of the Namibian team found that two white

sheets had been removed from one of the houses, some plastic bath

mats and a chair."The chair and bath mats were recorded after a

recount by myself, two volunteers and one of the allotment

officers, and the sheets, which I believe were mistakenly removed,

were quickly recovered," said Smit.She did not say where these

sheets were recovered.Smit said that before the team left Namibia

for the Games, she informed them that they would be allowed to take

the duvets they were provided with as a souvenir."It would have

been easily misunderstood that this meant all the bedding," Smit's

report says."At the airport I was aware that many rumours had

developed amongst the team about what had happened at the

inventory.I can assure you that these rumours were

unfounded."Reports have been requested from the volunteers who

conducted the inventory checks and from the Commonwealth organising

committee, and are still being awaited."It would be a great shame

if the medal winners for Namibia were denied their due

congratulations and respect for their dedication and hard work,

because of reports by the press which have no basis in fact," said

Smit.Mutorwa said he was satisfied that all three reports contained

a similar explanation of the incident that gave rise to the

allegations of theft against the team.He said unless it could be

proven otherwise, he endorsed the explanations given by Smit,

Similo and Kandjii and said the incident should not mar the

medal-winning performances of boxer Jafet Uutoni, who won gold, and

Friedhelm Sack, who won bronze for pistol shooting.In the wake of

the theft allegations, President Hifikepunye Pohamba put on hold a

special ceremony to recognise the performance of the Commonwealth

team."For anyone who still holds the view that an act of wrongdoing

was committed, I say: to err is human, to forgive is divine," said

Mutorwa.In a letter to the President of the Namibia Boxing

Federation Kelly Nghixulifwa, Kandjii says that the sheets of three

of the beds slept in by the boxers were found to be missing during

the inventory check."As the team manager I was informed about the

situation by one of the volunteers.I instructed the boxers to take

back the bed sheets, as the bed sheets were not part of the items

earmarked as souvenirs.The goods were given back immediately and

put on the beds," said Kandjii's letter."I presume there was a

misunderstanding of what items provided were to be taken as

souvenirs after the Commonwealth Games."Kandjii further denied that

any of the boxers under his charge went on a "poverty or begging

plea" from the Australian public.Kandjii said none of the boxers

had sold their clothing."I further declare that since the incident

was resolved and not of high importance, it was not reported to the

General Team Manager, Mrs Similo, or the chef de Mission, Mrs

Smit," said Kandjii.In Similo's report, she claims that the

Australian staff assigned to assist the Namibian team had offered

to pay for items the Namibians had to offer as souvenirs such as

pins, ties, scarves and clothing because they had no items to

exchange them for.Similo said a meeting of team managers to discuss

exchange transactions resolved that the exchange of items could

only take place after the closing ceremony on March 26 and that

athletes were not allowed to exchange their main tracksuit, a

T-shirt and a warm-up top, as they were required to wear them

during travel to maintain the Namibian identity, brand and

image."The exchange of items was blown out of proportion according

to the newspaper article, as various codes made use of the offer,"

said Similo."To my knowledge many Namibians, including officials,

exchanged items at no cost as a gesture of friendship and

gratitude."Similo said while she and athletes waited on the bus

during the inspection on the day of their departure, she was

informed that the rooms were being re-checked.She said she left the

bus to find out from Smit what was causing the delay, and was

informed that the inventory and paperwork had been completed,

despite some re-checks that were required and completed

satisfactorily.

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