Minister Sankwasa’s company faces presidential query over N$5-million tender

Rural and urban development minister James Sankwasa has refused to comment on president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s query into his company’s questionable awarding of a tender this year.

Earlier this year, The Namibian reported that Sankawa’s company, Cha-Cha-Cha Management Consultancy, was picked to shut down the state-owned Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) in a tender worth about N$5 million.

Sankwasa allegedly enlisted now retired former deputy director of human resources Stefanus Niikondo to help craft the terms of reference of the tender before retiring last year.

During her familiarisation visits to four green schemes in the two Kavango regions on Friday, Nandi-Ndaitwah pressed Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform acting executive director Ben Haraseb about the tender awarded to Sankawa’s consultancy firm.

Sankwasa did not entertain questions regarding the president’s query on his company.
“I have no comment on that,” Sankwasa told this publication.

The president questioned Haraseb on when the consultancy was hired.

Haraseb initially responded that it was in May, before changing his response to June.

In May this year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) confirmed that it was investigating the tender awarded to Sankwasa’s company.

“Yes, we are investigating that case. We have started questioning the officials from the agricultural ministry, including the executive director [Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata].

We will also question former director [Niikondo] and eventually minister Sankwasa,” he said.

He previously expressed concern that the tender was internally orchestrated.

ACC’s Paulus Noa has revealed that the ACC was engaging officials from the agriculture ministry, “because we don’t want to start by blaming or accusing the company owner; the owner will come last”.

At the time, Noa highlighted the conflict of interest concerning Niikondo as clear.

“He is doing the same work he was doing in the ministry. I don’t want to conclude yet, but that appears to be gratification if you look at the entire set-up,” he said.

“The executive director must tell us who introduced the company to her. And whether she questioned the appointment of a former employee in the consultant company,” he said.

The process to dissolve Agribusdev and integrate it into the ministry commenced in 2021. A matter which Haraseb says has been delayed by legislative challenges and the ministry’s request for legal assistance from the attorney general.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has instructed minister of agriculture Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi to take charge of the matter, criticising the prolonged inaction.

“You cannot take a decision in 2021 and up to now people are suffering. Imagine if you were in the same position,” she says.
– Additional reporting by Nampa

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.