Opposition MP demands probe into State House ‘slush funds’

THE Congress of Democrats (CoD) has pushed for Government to investigate claims by former presidential aide Isaac Kaulinge about State House funds that are unaccounted for.

Failure to do so, CoD MP Nora Schimming-Chase said on Tuesday, would be tantamount to a “mockery” of the executive and legislature. After being in recess for a month, Schimming-Chase rose in the National Assembly to ask the Prime Minister whether efforts were being made to investigate the allegations and report the findings to the National Assembly.Kaulinge claimed to have been tricked into accepting responsibility for about N$400 000 in travel and daily allowances owed to State House to ward off investigations by the Public Accounts Committee.This came after he was set to challenge the accusation before the High Court.”If not properly explained, [the failure to investigate] could make a mockery of the manner in which the executive, according to our Constitution, is to be accountable to the legislature, and makes a farce of the power of standing committees,” Schimming-Chase said.She added that if the Prime Minister did not investigate Kaulinge’s claims, including that some of the missing funds were used for Swapo’s 1999 election campaign, it would raise serious doubts about how Government funds were used for party politics.Schimming-Chase further requested the Prime Minister to shed light on how “transparency and accountability can be adhered to” if it was true that State House personnel sometimes carried up to a million dollars in cash while travelling.The Prime Minister is expected to reply to Schimming-Chase’s inquiries on June 17.After being in recess for a month, Schimming-Chase rose in the National Assembly to ask the Prime Minister whether efforts were being made to investigate the allegations and report the findings to the National Assembly.Kaulinge claimed to have been tricked into accepting responsibility for about N$400 000 in travel and daily allowances owed to State House to ward off investigations by the Public Accounts Committee.This came after he was set to challenge the accusation before the High Court.”If not properly explained, [the failure to investigate] could make a mockery of the manner in which the executive, according to our Constitution, is to be accountable to the legislature, and makes a farce of the power of standing committees,” Schimming-Chase said.She added that if the Prime Minister did not investigate Kaulinge’s claims, including that some of the missing funds were used for Swapo’s 1999 election campaign, it would raise serious doubts about how Government funds were used for party politics.Schimming-Chase further requested the Prime Minister to shed light on how “transparency and accountability can be adhered to” if it was true that State House personnel sometimes carried up to a million dollars in cash while travelling.The Prime Minister is expected to reply to Schimming-Chase’s inquiries on June 17.