Govt finds gross negligence a factor in Caprivi food scandal

AN investigation into undelivered food aid in the Caprivi has confirmed that “gross negligence” was a factor. Although declining to elaborate on the investigation report, which was handed to him late on Thursday, Secretary to Cabinet Frans Kapofi said on Friday that his findings of last month had been confirmed.

Kapofi said the report had been handed to the President and Prime Minister’s Offices for further action. Kapofi travelled to Katima Mulilo last month on a tip-off that more than 18 000 bags of maize meal were being spoilt by mice and monkeys in a warehouse at M’pacha military base instead of being given to flood victims.The scant information provided by officials at the time of his visit pointed to negligence on the part of the Regional Emergency Management Unit for failing to deliver the food to those in need.It is not yet known whether slashing overtime payments for emergency management unit officials played a role in the failure to deliver the food.But Kapofi did give an assurance that Government would “take the appropriate action” against those responsible.He said more would be revealed once the country’s top leaders had fully studied the report.The report was compiled by a team appointed by the Prime Minister’s Office to investigate the matter.They spent two weeks interviewing officials, councillors and flood victims themselves in an effort to get to the bottom of the scandal.The findings come hot on the heels of the Agricultural Ministry’s Early Warning and Food Information Unit warning last week that people in the Caprivi could go hungry this year.Poor and erratic rains and the late planting of crops have led to a very poor harvest – forecast at 76 per cent less than last year.Kapofi travelled to Katima Mulilo last month on a tip-off that more than 18 000 bags of maize meal were being spoilt by mice and monkeys in a warehouse at M’pacha military base instead of being given to flood victims.The scant information provided by officials at the time of his visit pointed to negligence on the part of the Regional Emergency Management Unit for failing to deliver the food to those in need.It is not yet known whether slashing overtime payments for emergency management unit officials played a role in the failure to deliver the food.But Kapofi did give an assurance that Government would “take the appropriate action” against those responsible.He said more would be revealed once the country’s top leaders had fully studied the report.The report was compiled by a team appointed by the Prime Minister’s Office to investigate the matter.They spent two weeks interviewing officials, councillors and flood victims themselves in an effort to get to the bottom of the scandal.The findings come hot on the heels of the Agricultural Ministry’s Early Warning and Food Information Unit warning last week that people in the Caprivi could go hungry this year.Poor and erratic rains and the late planting of crops have led to a very poor harvest – forecast at 76 per cent less than last year.