National Unity Democratic Organisation parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu has questioned the Ministry of Finance’s tender board for awarding a tender to an alleged Chinese company to construct a school.
Kandorozu, however, did not mention which school.
He raised this concern in parliament on Thursday to line minister Ericah Shafudah.
“Are there no Namibian companies to construct schools. All these schools, even the ones you attended, were constructed by the Namibians.
“Why did you change it to accommodate foraging companies of Chinese or are you using these Chinese companies to pay spinoffs for the loan of N$700 million that Swapo loaned from the Chinese Communist party to build the Swapo building,” Kandorozu questioned.
Shafudah was unable to respond after the chamber erupted in chaos due to Kandorozu’s remarks.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa had previously refuted allegations that the party’s headquarters was funded by the Chinese, saying Swapo used its own funds.
In 2024 it was reported in a daily newspaper that Chinese companies, under government grants, constructed four rural schools – Satotwa and Simanya in the Kavango West region and Liselo and Masokotwani in the Zambezi region – providing hostels and classrooms to over 1 200 pupils.
The Gansu Construction Investment Group undertook the construction in March 2022 and aimed to improve education access and quality in these underserved areas.
In Windhoek, Otjomuise Secondary School opened its doors in 2016 after receiving N$120 million in construction funding, making it one of the largest Chinese donations to Namibia’s education sector.
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