Former health minister Bernard Haufiku has defended his involvement in engagements linked to a Chinese pharmaceutical company, saying there is no conflict of interest in his actions and that he has never benefitted commercially from government.
In his response to questions around his role in facilitating meetings between Jiangsu Aidea Pharma and Ministry of Health and Social Services early last year, Haufiku maintained that his contributions to the public sector have been rooted in service, not profit.
“I see no conflict of interest here. Someone must point it out for me if there is any,” Haufiku said on Thursday.
He clarified that since leaving public office, he has not conducted any business with the Namibian government or its agencies on a commercial basis.
“It must, however, be stated that I have never provided service to the Namibian government on a commercial basis. Everything I have done for the people of Namibia, and indeed Africa, through the public sector was either on a pro bono basis or while I was appointed as minister,” he said.
“The only exceptions are my presentations to the Bank of Namibia, City of Windhoek and others during the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s all.”
Haufiku further questioned whether there are any legal provisions barring former government officials from entering into business with the state after their term ends.
“I would also like to know if there is any law in Namibia or other legal instruments preventing a person who was serving in government from doing business with the government after leaving the government service,” he said.
“In the meantime, it should be emphasised that every Namibian has a full right to gainfully and legally do business with the government of Namibia.”
He added: “So if I cannot do business with the government of Namibia, including in the health sector, which is my strongest area of knowledge and experience, then I must as well just leave Namibia and work or do business elsewhere.”
Haufiku said he thought Jiangsu’s investment in Namibia would be beneficial to the country.
He said he also visited their manufacturing facility in Jiangsu and took them to Geneva to meet with Medicine Patent Pro global head Charles Gore.
Haufiku said Jiangsu Aidea Pharma is considering withdrawing from registering their products in Namibia because of apparent delays with the process of registration at the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council.
“On this they (Aidea Pharma) have asked me if I can intervene to speed up the process of registration but I told them no, I cannot do that because that would be construed as exerting undue pressure on the staff who once worked under me as their minister,” he said.
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