Nujoma honorary advisor, not ‘consultant’

FOUNDING President Sam Nujoma is an ‘honorary advisor’ to East China Mineral Exploration and Development Bureau (ECE).

The Namibian is in possession of a letter dated April 7 2009 in which Nujoma wrote to ECE director general, Shao Yi, wishing ‘to acknowledge with thanks, receipt of your letter dated March 24 2009 in which you have requested me to become honorary advisor of ECE’.He wrote the letter ‘to kindly inform you that I have accepted your request to become honorary advisor of the bureau’, Nujoma stated.Furthermore, the founding President said: ‘I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the support that the bureau has extended to the University of Namibia by providing scholarships to deserving Namibian students to further their education.’He added that he looks forward to working with ECE in his ‘new capacity as honorary advisor and render my assistance where it is required’.This revelation comes in the wake of a denial by Nujoma’s office that he was an ‘honorary consultant’ to the Chinese outfit.Last week, it was reported that Nujoma and ECE appear to have a long-standing relationship.Upon enquiry, Nujoma’s right-hand man, John Nauta, yesterday admitted that the founding President is an honorary advisor of ECE. But, he maintained, Nujoma is not an honorary consultant of the company, despite a request to also act in that capacity.Nujoma’s ECE involvement as honorary advisor is limited to the Unam scholarships, Nauta said. ‘It is only with regard to scholarships which he accepted; not the business arm per se.’ECE approached Nujoma last year to consult on a steel factory which they want to erect in the Kunene Region, but there is ‘nothing in writing’ that he committed to this, Nauta said.Regarding the Unam scholarships, Nujoma gives advice about deserving students, the senior special assistant said.Meanwhile, Chinese companies have again come under fire for ‘seeking influential people on their side for protection’, a senior official said yesterday. ‘That’s the tactics from the Chinese; to put down roots in the country.’