Presidency employees given unlimited credit cards

Employees in the Office of the President have access to unlimited credit cards, intended to use for projects.

This was revealed yesterday during a public hearing before the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts.

The Presidency was called by the committee to answer for the state of its financial affairs.

The office got a qualified audit opinion, which means its financial statements contain material misstatements of specific amounts, or there is insufficient evidence to conclude that specific amounts included in the financial statements are not materially misstated.

“The office has six credit cards from First National Bank issued to six different officials who work closely with the president. At the time of writing this report, no treasury approval for the opening of these credit cards was provided for audit purposes,” the report reads.

The commission, led by lawmaker Dudu Murorua, yesterday asked the management of the Office of the President to explain why employees, including one of president Hage Geingob’s security detail, were issued credit cards, while their appointment letters were not provided to the auditors.

Appointment letters are a prerequisite for the issuing of credit cards.

The president’s office is represented by deputy director Martha Kabozu, chief financial adviser Monika Eises, executive director Claudia Grace Uushona, as well as director of administration Alma Nambundunga.

The auditor general’s report pointed out that the Presidency did not get approval from the treasury for the opening of these credit cards.

“Furthermore, it is also recommended that the accounting officer should ensure that the approved motivations, expenditure accountability reports, and proof of deductions from leave gratuity are provided for audit purposes,” the auditors said.

Nambundunga told the committee that the Office of the President increases the limits of credit cards, depending on projects.
“There’s no limit,” she told the committee.

She said they would call the bank to increase limits “as they go”.

The auditors also highlighted the naame of six employees who have access to credit cards, however the president’s office could provide proof of employment for only one employee.

One of these credit cards belongs to Ndilipunye Modesto, who is one of Geingob’s personal security officers.

Eises could not provide an answer for this and admitted to the office’s mistakes.

“I take note that there is an oversight and the mistakes indicated,” she said.

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