Scandal shocks ECB

THE Electricity Control Board (ECB) was rocked by a scandal yesterday, leading to the suspension of two of its employees.

Shadreck Mwilima, the ECB’s public relations officer and part of its management team, and Martha Nyambali, an administration officer, were suspended with immediate effect yesterday.It is alleged that the two employees misappropriated at least N$100 000.Siheho Simasiku, the chief executive officer of the ECB, confirmed the news of the suspension yesterday. ‘Og, you people. Why don’t you go to them? We have suspended two people because we are investigating a case of possible misappropriation of ECB funds. [It has] something to do with tenders.’Asked about the amount suspected to be involved, Simasiku said: ‘It’s not a big figure – approximately N$100 000. The issue is not the amount but the principles attached.’According to him, a preliminary internal probe was launched but the investigation is now in the hands of an external party to make it ‘as objective as possible’.Simasiku said the matter came to light ‘because you cannot hide these things’.However, the two employees were suspended with full pay until the investigation is finalised, he said. He could not say how long this would take.Mwilima who said he was out of town on an assignment, yesterday afternoon claimed that he was not aware that he had been suspended. He said he will report for duty when back in the capital today.Regarding the alleged irregularities, he said that one would need the ECB board’s approval to ‘get to that amount of money [N$100 000]’.Mwilima added that he does not deal with tenders. ‘I wouldn’t know what that (an irregularity) means – I just do my work. My work has to do with PR.’Nyambali refused to respond about the developments. ‘Why are you calling me? I cannot comment. I cannot say anything at this stage.’Simasiku yesterday afternoon denied allegations that he had brought in a fortune teller of Indian descent at the ECB on Friday to address the irregularities facing the organisation. ‘What is happening? I’m not aware of that rubbish. Even if I had some Indian visiting me – are Indians only known for fortune telling?’He said he consults with a number of people from all over the world ‘on energy issues and nothing more than that. What is wrong with Namibians?’According to its website, the core mandate of the ECB is to exercise control over the electricity supply industry with the main responsibility of regulating electricity generation, transmission, distribution, supply, import and export in Namibia through setting tariffs and issuance of licenses. The ECB executes its statutory functions through the Technical Secretariat headed by Simasiku.Yesterday afternoon, Simasiku could not confirm whether an ECB engineer had also been suspended. ‘I have nothing to say now,’ he said.

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