Govt defends Mnyupe’s multiple appointments

Minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo last week told parliament that the appointment of presidential economic adviser James Mnyupe to manage the Green Hydrogen Implementation Authority’s office in his ministry should not be seen as double dipping.

He said it should not be viewed as an appointment that would overshadow other roles Mnyupe already has in the government.

Mnyupe serves as the presidential adviser for economic affairs, as well as the government’s green hydrogen commissioner.

“Mnyupe is in secondment to the commissioner’s office. He is not getting two salaries. As such, he is not conflicted in any way,” Alweendo said.

The minister was responding to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani’s concern that Mnyupe’s multiple roles could result in the duplication of duties.

Putting these questions to the minister in the Presidency, Christine Hoëbes, in parliament, Venaani further questioned the justifiability of the appointments.

“How does the government justify having one individual holding multiple roles across different public sectors, and what measures are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest?” he asked.

He asked whether there are established procedures to ensure that the tasks and responsibilities for each of Mnyupe’s roles are distinct to avoid redundancy and to promote effectiveness.

Venaani also queried the legality and practicality of the appointments.

“Does the appointment of the same individual to multiple roles violate the principle of the separation of powers – especially if the roles are meant to have checks and balances on each other?” he asked, further dwelling on how the government intends to ensure that the roles of presidential economic adviser and green hydrogen commissioner do not overlap or conflict with the duties of the Green Hydrogen Implementation Authority’s office.

“What are the key performance indicators for each of the roles that Mnyupe holds, and how is his performance being monitored objectively and evaluated? Is there a documented rationale for assigning these multiple roles to a single individual and if so, could it be made transparent for public scrutiny?” he asked.

Venaani also wanted to know how the government is ensuring that the policies and strategies of the Green Hydrogen Implementation Authority’s office would align with the broader economic objectives advised by Mnyupe in his financial advisory role, and whether there are protocols for the presidential economic adviser to recuse himself from discussions and decisions that may affect the Green Hydrogen Namibia Programme.

Alweendo’s reply did address questions pertaining to checks and balances, the separation of powers, and the prevention of redundancy.
The minister, who is out of the country on official business, could not be reached for further comment.

Mnyupe’s cellphone remained unreachable this week.

BLURRED LINES

Political analyst and lecturer at the University of Namibia Ndumba Kamwanyah says the appointments “blurs the lines of checks and balances” in terms of public policy.

Green hydrogen requires different persons serving in different capacities, particularly in view of the culture of corruption that currently prevails in Namibia,” Kamwanyah says.

“It is also dubious to have an economic adviser to the Presidency in charge of such a project,” he says.

The analyst says to put one person in charge of the planning and execution of a project that is allegedly shrouded in secrecy does not augur well in terms of transparency.

His call is for the necessary adjustments to be made.

Even if the decision to appoint Mnyupe in certain positions is not reversed, the appointing authority should put the necessary mechanisms in place to ensure transparency, Kamwanyah says.