AG’s office drives into trouble

STATE House has denied intervening in tender procedures to allow the Office of the Attorney General to buy a vehicle costing more than half a million dollars.

The proposed purchase caused a stir at the Tender Board, sources told The Namibian. Well-placed senior Government officials said the Tender Board “expressed concern” when, a few weeks ago, the Office of the Attorney General asked for an exemption from “normal tender requirements” to buy a four-wheel drive vehicle at a cost of N$530 000.After being asked to clarify the request, the Office allegedly replied that the exemption had been approved by the “relevant authorities”, which was interpreted as referring to State House.But acting Secretary to the President, Joseph Kashea, on Friday denied that State House had intervened in the proposed purchase.The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney General, Vicky ya Toivo, on Friday dismissed as “inaccurate” suggestions that there had been interference with the Tender Board.The Tender Board reportedly told the AG’s office to ensure that the request was in line with the purchasing rules of vehicles for politicians.The means of transport of politicians became a closely watched matter about four years ago when President Sam Nujoma ordered that Cabinet members and their deputies should drive the cheaper luxury cars like the Camry and the fuel-guzzling US-import the Chevrolet, instead of Mercedes-Benz and other off-road four-wheel drive vehicles.Attorney General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, when approached for comment while on a visit to China, said the details of the purchase of a vehicle would be handled by her chief administrator, and then asked:”What is really the issue?” Iivula-Ithana said that for two years she had not had an official 4×4 vehicle like other Cabinet members and that she was simply expecting to get one.”I want you to go and find out the price range of a Tahoe, then you can make comparisons if it is the price you are talking about.I don’t think there is a 4×4 today that is so cheap,” said Iivula-Ithana.The AG said one only needed to look at the vehicles driven by chief executive officers of parastatals to see who drove luxury cars.The Chevrolet Tahoe that her counterparts use is out of stock.The Namibian learnt from the agency that sells the vehicles to Government that a private import of a new Tahoe might cost more than N$700 000.The four-wheel vehicles provided for deputy ministers cost less than N$400 000.Government gets a discount when it buys cars in bulk.Ya Toivo said the AG’s office had been struggling with transport and had spent a lot of money leasing the type of vehicle they needed.She said the request to be exempted from tender procedures was meticulously done and that the Tender Board referred the AG’s Office back for “consultations at the level of policy”, which is political authority.”Every single thing that was done, was done in accordance with procedures.Anybody who is suggesting that something was done to interfere with the process of the Tender Board is simply lying,” said Ya Toivo.Kashea from State House said:”State House does not interfere or force the Tender Board to operate otherwise” other than according to its legislation.The Chairperson of the Tender Board and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Calle Schlettwein, confirmed that questions were raised in a normal manner that the board would want to ensure that Government purchases are done through open bids.Schlettwein said the Tender Board had approved the request for an exemption after an explanation was given that the vehicle was needed as part of the AG Office’s small fleet of vehicles.The Namibian has learnt that the AG’s Office wanted to buy a VW Tuareg “demo” vehicle from a local dealer as it was discounted at N$530 000.One car dealership put the price of a brand new one at N$585 000.It is not clear whether Government intends to revisit the decision to use certain types of vehicles for Cabinet members and other politicians.Well-placed senior Government officials said the Tender Board “expressed concern” when, a few weeks ago, the Office of the Attorney General asked for an exemption from “normal tender requirements” to buy a four-wheel drive vehicle at a cost of N$530 000.After being asked to clarify the request, the Office allegedly replied that the exemption had been approved by the “relevant authorities”, which was interpreted as referring to State House.But acting Secretary to the President, Joseph Kashea, on Friday denied that State House had intervened in the proposed purchase.The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney General, Vicky ya Toivo, on Friday dismissed as “inaccurate” suggestions that there had been interference with the Tender Board.The Tender Board reportedly told the AG’s office to ensure that the request was in line with the purchasing rules of vehicles for politicians.The means of transport of politicians became a closely watched matter about four years ago when President Sam Nujoma ordered that Cabinet members and their deputies should drive the cheaper luxury cars like the Camry and the fuel-guzzling US-import the Chevrolet, instead of Mercedes-Benz and other off-road four-wheel drive vehicles.Attorney General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, when approached for comment while on a visit to China, said the details of the purchase of a vehicle would be handled by her chief administrator, and then asked:”What is really the issue?” Iivula-Ithana said that for two years she had not had an official 4×4 vehicle like other Cabinet members and that she was simply expecting to get one.”I want you to go and find out the price range of a Tahoe, then you can make comparisons if it is the price you are talking about.I don’t think there is a 4×4 today that is so cheap,” said Iivula-Ithana.The AG said one only needed to look at the vehicles driven by chief executive officers of parastatals to see who drove luxury cars.The Chevrolet Tahoe that her counterparts use is out of stock.The Namibian learnt from the agency that sells the vehicles to Government that a private import of a new Tahoe might cost more than N$700 000.The four-wheel vehicles provided for deputy ministers cost less than N$400 000.Government gets a discount when it buys cars in bulk.Ya Toivo said the AG’s office had been struggling with transport and had spent a lot of money leasing the type of vehicle they needed.She said the request to be exempted from tender procedures was meticulously done and that the Tender Board referred the AG’s Office back for “consultations at the level of policy”, which is political authority.”Every single thing that was done, was done in accordance with procedures.Anybody who is suggesting that something was done to interfere with the process of the Tender Board is simply lying,” said Ya Toivo.Kashea from State House said:”State House does not interfere or force the Tender Board to operate otherwise” other than according to its legislation.The Chairperson of the Tender Board and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Calle Schlettwein, confirmed that questions were raised in a normal manner that the board would want to ensure that Government purchases are done through open bids.Schlettwein said the Tender Board had approved the request for an exemption after an explanation was given that the vehicle was needed as part of the AG Office’s small fleet of vehicles.The Namibian has learnt that the AG’s Office wanted to buy a VW Tuareg “demo” vehicle from a local dealer as it was discounted at N$530 000.One car dealership put the price of a brand new one at N$585 000.It is not clear whether Government intends to revisit the decision to use certain types of vehicles for Cabinet members and other politicians.