Commission is announced for DBC, Amcom inquiry

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma has appointed a commission of inquiry into the DBC and Amcom, a move that was anticipated before the Swapo Party Extraordinary Congress and seen as a witch-hunt aimed at tarnishing former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya’s image.

Members of the Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Affairs, Management and Operation of the Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) and Amalgamated Commercial Holding (Amcom) were appointed on June 3. A public notice was issued through the Government Gazette of June 16.The Namibian learnt before the Swapo Congress held to elect the ruling party’s candidate for the November elections that officials from the Office of the Attorney General had visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) in preparation for the inquiry.Sympathisers of the axed Minister at the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) claimed that Sackey Shanghala, Special Assistant to Attorney General Pendukeni Ithana, visited their offices three weeks before the congress, hinting that an inquiry would be conducted into Amcom and the DBC.Both organisations were under Hamutenya when he was Minister of Trade and Industry.He spearheaded the establishment of the DBC while still Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the early 1990s.The DBC collapsed as a result of poor management, alleged irregularities and unprofitable projects.Amcom was part of the NDC which this year reported posting a profit after the acrimonious closure of Amcom.Hamutenya personally became involved in the closure following a Cabinet decision in 1999 to shut Amcom down and privatise its assets.The inquiry will delve specifically into the shutting down of the two parastatals, including the “usage and handling of all property, equipment and materials acquired by the entities”.Nujoma has directed the investigation to look into the use of funding the two organisations received from Government in the form of loans and grants.The probe will be wide-ranging and cover management and other structures.Neutral observers and supporters of the axed Minister of Foreign Affairs are likely to see the decision as a vindictive move against Hamutenya.Nujoma had let it be known he was against Hamutenya’s presidential ambitions in the three-person race involving Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula and the eventual winner, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation.This, despite that Pohamba asked for what he termed to be a ‘united front’ and an end to the “dirty tricks” campaign after the Swapo Congress.When approached ahead of the Swapo Congress, Shanghala declined to comment about the possible inquiries, except to say that any work he would have done were part of the Office of the Attorney General.At the time Attorney General Ithana played down the issue, saying that her office did not conduct investigations in the form of commissions of inquiry.”But even if an investigation were to be carried out, why should it be to [try and] tarnish somebody’s name.I would think an investigation will bring out the truth.”For now I would say, take it just as one of those rumours that are circulating,” said Ithana less than two weeks before the commission was formally appointed.Secretary to the President Dr Ndeutala Angolo, when asked about a possible witch-hunt against Hamutenya, said on Friday:”The allegations are really false because this idea came up a long time ago – before there was even a congress.I don’t think the President could be like that.I don’t see a relation between the two.”Magistrate Petrus Unengu is the chairperson of the commission.Labour Commissioner Bro-Matthew Shinguadja, Festus Mbandeka from the Office of the Attorney General, Brian Nalisa and Emma Haiyambo are the other commissioners.Lovisa Indongo, an advocate, has been appointed secretary to the inquiry.Unengu said they were yet to meet to set the “strategy” or modus operandi of the inquiry, and was therefore unable to say whether public hearings would be conducted.The commission has five months to complete its work.A public notice was issued through the Government Gazette of June 16.The Namibian learnt before the Swapo Congress held to elect the ruling party’s candidate for the November elections that officials from the Office of the Attorney General had visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) in preparation for the inquiry.Sympathisers of the axed Minister at the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) claimed that Sackey Shanghala, Special Assistant to Attorney General Pendukeni Ithana, visited their offices three weeks before the congress, hinting that an inquiry would be conducted into Amcom and the DBC.Both organisations were under Hamutenya when he was Minister of Trade and Industry.He spearheaded the establishment of the DBC while still Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the early 1990s.The DBC collapsed as a result of poor management, alleged irregularities and unprofitable projects.Amcom was part of the NDC which this year reported posting a profit after the acrimonious closure of Amcom.Hamutenya personally became involved in the closure following a Cabinet decision in 1999 to shut Amcom down and privatise its assets.The inquiry will delve specifically into the shutting down of the two parastatals, including the “usage and handling of all property, equipment and materials acquired by the entities”.Nujoma has directed the investigation to look into the use of funding the two organisations received from Government in the form of loans and grants.The probe will be wide-ranging and cover management and other structures.Neutral observers and supporters of the axed Minister of Foreign Affairs are likely to see the decision as a vindictive move against Hamutenya.Nujoma had let it be known he was against Hamutenya’s presidential ambitions in the three-person race involving Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula and the eventual winner, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation.This, despite that Pohamba asked for what he termed to be a ‘united front’ and an end to the “dirty tricks” campaign after the Swapo Congress.When approached ahead of the Swapo Congress, Shanghala declined to comment about the possible inquiries, except to say that any work he would have done were part of the Office of the Attorney General.At the time Attorney General Ithana played down the issue, saying that her office did not conduct investigations in the form of commissions of inquiry.”But even if an investigation were to be carried out, why should it be to [try and] tarnish somebody’s name.I would think an investigation will bring out the truth.”For now I would say, take it just as one of those rumours that are circulating,” said Ithana less than two weeks before the commission was formally appointed.Secretary to the President Dr Ndeutala Angolo, when asked about a possible witch-hunt against Hamutenya, said on Friday:”The allegations are really false because this idea came up a long time ago – before there was even a congress.I don’t think the President could be like that.I don’t see a relation between the two.”Magistrate Petrus Unengu is the chairperson of the commission.Labour Commissioner Bro-Matthew Shinguadja, Festus Mbandeka from the Office of the Attorney General, Brian Nalisa and Emma Haiyambo are the other commissioners.Lovisa Indongo, an advocate, has been appointed secretary to the inquiry.Unengu said they were yet to meet to set the “strategy” or modus operandi of the inquiry, and was therefore unable to say whether public hearings would be conducted.The commission has five months to complete its work.