Public workers take issue with PG on GIPF

A ‘SUSTAINED’ demonstration by Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) members is still on the cards despite reassurances from Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa that a proper investigation into the Development Capital Portfolio (DCP) is continuing.

The chairperson of the Public Service Workers’ Committee, Adeline Black, said the planned nationwide demonstrations are subject to logistical issues. The committee has called on all GIPF members, relatives of members, pensioners and members of the public to participate in these demonstrations to express their discontent over Government’s slow response to the alleged mismanagement of the DCP millions, which resulted in the non-payment of loans of more than N$660 million. Reacting to the PG’s assertion last week that National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda was ‘politicising’ the GIPF-DCP matter, the Public Service Workers’ Committee said the Namibian Government had issued a press statement that all issues of a criminal nature were already submitted to the PG’s office for possible prosecution. This, the committee said, was after Government reportedly identified issues of civil and criminal nature. Information minister Joel Kaapanda had reportedly also said that President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Cabinet, and Government wanted to get to the bottom of the GIPF-DCP saga and finalise the matter as soon as possible. The public workers’ committee said the PG is yet to assure the nation ‘through action’ of her seriousness about a speedy finalisation of the matter. ‘The GIPF matter was brought to the attention of politicians as far back as 2006, but it only landed on the national agenda with the congress resolution under the leadership of the secretary general of the NUNW,’ the committee said. Of concern, the committee said, were reports that a law enforcement agent tried to prevent the matter from being thoroughly investigated. ‘It is common in Namibia that when serious crimes are committed, stakeholders urge law enforcement and/or law enforcement and/or judiciary to take speedy and decisive action for the sake of justice,’ the committee stated. ‘However, now that the elite are seemingly involved and law enforcement is encouraged to take speedy action, stakeholders are accused of politicising the matter. Or are the people who have access to the reports aware that politicians are involved and seeking to shield them in one way or another?’ It further asked if law enforcement only took action if a complaint is made, adding: ‘If the prosecution needs a complainant then provide us with the [audit] reports so we gain access to the information needed for such an action. The PG should just take the matter to court where the information will become public anyway.’ The committee maintained that Government had failed because it ignored the first audit report by the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa), did not monitor the running of the GIPF, and that the nomination of the GIPF board of trustees was not transparent. It further said Government was deliberately unable to recall appointed board members. ‘Government clearly has a significant interest in the GIPF as workers involved are civil servants and the employer contribution comes from the taxpayers, thus the matter is also of national importance,’ the committee said.