Nujoma Foundation undecided on Namangol donation

THE Sam Nujoma Foundation will soon decide whether or not it will return around N$20 000 it received from Namangol Investments – a company deeply embroiled in the botched N$30 million investment the Social Security Commission made with Avid Investment Corporation.

John Nauta, Senior Special Assistant to former President Sam Nujoma, said yesterday that the Office of the Former President had no role to play in the running of the foundation, and that it handled its own administrative affairs. However, he was able to say that the foundation would meet “soon” and that the matter of the Namangol pledge was one of the “smaller” agenda items.Although Namangol Investments pledged N$310 000 to the foundation, Nauta said yesterday that bank records reflected that only about N$20 000 had been received.When he last testified before the inquiry, Namangol CEO Nico Josea told the court that the pledge had been made for 10 years, and that he had planned to deposit N$5 000 a month.He recalled having made an initial payment of N$10 000.Nauta said it had been portrayed as if the money had gone directly to Nujoma or his office and that it was further perceived that the affairs of the Sam Nujoma Foundation were run from his office.”It’s a public institution founded by the former President.Even if the former President is not there, it will still run.It should not be considered as a one-man institution,” he said.Nauta said the board of trustees was responsible for all the decisions and of the foundation, and that Nujoma was not directing its work.Nauta said the foundation could not have known that the money it had received from Namangol was ill gotten.Two weeks ago, the inquiry noted a letter of thanks for the pledge that the Sam Nujoma Foundation had written to Namangol Investments in June.Josea further told the court that no agreement had been signed with the foundation for the money.Prime Minister Nahas Angula is the Chairperson of the Sam Nujoma Foundation, but is currently out of the country.However, he was able to say that the foundation would meet “soon” and that the matter of the Namangol pledge was one of the “smaller” agenda items.Although Namangol Investments pledged N$310 000 to the foundation, Nauta said yesterday that bank records reflected that only about N$20 000 had been received.When he last testified before the inquiry, Namangol CEO Nico Josea told the court that the pledge had been made for 10 years, and that he had planned to deposit N$5 000 a month.He recalled having made an initial payment of N$10 000.Nauta said it had been portrayed as if the money had gone directly to Nujoma or his office and that it was further perceived that the affairs of the Sam Nujoma Foundation were run from his office.”It’s a public institution founded by the former President.Even if the former President is not there, it will still run.It should not be considered as a one-man institution,” he said.Nauta said the board of trustees was responsible for all the decisions and of the foundation, and that Nujoma was not directing its work.Nauta said the foundation could not have known that the money it had received from Namangol was ill gotten.Two weeks ago, the inquiry noted a letter of thanks for the pledge that the Sam Nujoma Foundation had written to Namangol Investments in June.Josea further told the court that no agreement had been signed with the foundation for the money.Prime Minister Nahas Angula is the Chairperson of the Sam Nujoma Foundation, but is currently out of the country.