Agriculture department returns N$109m over vacancies

At least 10 divisions within the Department of Agriculture and Land Reform have returned over N$109 million to the treasury due to unfilled vacant positions.

This happened despite the country’s soaring unemployment rate, which sees graduates jobless.

Auditor general Junias Kandjeke says these funds could have been used for other projects.

Kandjeke, in his recent audit report into the financial affairs of the Department of Agriculture and Land Reform, gave a qualified opinion.

This opinion indicates that the financial statements contain material misstatements in specific amounts, or there is insufficient evidence to conclude that specific amounts included in the financial statements are not materially misstated.

These divisions are: Land reform (N$29,9 million); administration (N$16,6 million); veterinary services (N$12,3 million); research, development and training (N$10,7 million); resettlement and regional programmes (N$4,3 million); valuation and estate management (N$3,6 million); planning, pricing, marketing and coordination (N$6,2 million); agriculture production and extension services (N$5,8 million); centralised registration (N$1,8 million); as well as land survey and land mapping (N$6,6 million).

The biggest chunk of the money returned was meant for land reform, which was N$29,9 million.

“The contributing factor for underspending on this main division was due to the vacant positions that were not filled during the financial year under review and other purchase orders that have been cancelled at the end of the financial year under review.

“Another contributing factor was due to activities under the development budget that were not undertaken, thus resulting in underspending under this main division,” the report reads.

The department’s administration division returned N$16,6 million, stating the same reason and adding that the bidding process contributed to the snail’s pace.

“Another contributing factor was due to construction, renovation and improvement of offices and official houses that could not be completed on time because of non responsive bidders, thus the underspending on this main division,” the report reads.

The veterinary services gave back N$12,3 million, while research, development and training returned N$10,7 million.

The resettlement and regional programme returned N$4,3 million.

“Other purchase orders that have been cancelled at the end of the financial year are under review. Another contributing factor was due to activities under the development budget that were not undertaken,” the report reads.

The ministry’s valuation and estate management division gave back N$3,6 million.

“The other contributing factor was because the Namibia Council for Property Valuers’ Profession was not yet in place to pay the valuer membership fee thus resulting in underspending,” the report reads.

In the planning, pricing, marketing and coordination division, N$6,2 million was given back.

“Another contributing factor was due to the invoices from Agri Bank that were submitted late,” the report reads.

Other divisions such as information technology (IT) returned N$7,5 million due to procurement matters.

“The contributing factor for underspending on this main division was due to the procurement of server and IT equipment that could not be bought due to bid documents which were delayed, thus resulting in underspending,” the report reads.

Agriculture production and extension services returned N$5,8 million due to few staff members who went on retirement.

“Purchase orders were printed but suppliers could not deliver on time during the financial year under review, thus resulting in underspending on the main division.

“The other contributing factor was due to tenders for diesel, which were not awarded on time, and the supplier could not deliver timeously until the end of the financial year under review,” the report reads.

The Public Service Commission, in its latest annual report indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform did not submit their personnel statistics or reports.