Schlettwein slams president’s task forces

Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein is raising questions about president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s three new task forces, scrutinising their purpose and potential to undermine ministries.

The president commissioned the task forces last week.

The teams aim to address health sector issues, the country’s lack of adequate housing, and economic recovery.

However, critics are calling the appointments mere “window dressing”.

Schlettwein says the teams could create distrust between ministries and the Presidency as the appointing authority.

“If you have a task force on health, what is the health ministry for?” he asks.

“A ministry has a full policy and implementation mandate and a budget to fulfil the promises they gave the public during elections.”

Schlettwein says the previous task forces, like the business rescue force established by former president Hage Geingob in 2021, operated on a more consultative basis and provided recommendations.

The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board was created on the recommendation of that task force, he says.

“So some were implemented. But I believe those task forces were more consultative rather than supervisory or implementation-oriented.”

TRANSPARENCY

Political analyst Johan Coetzee questions the transparency and credibility of the members appointed to the latest task forces.

The appointments include businessman Erastus Nikodemus, who has previously been embroiled in pit latrine fraud allegations involving N$20 million.

Anti-Corruption Commission director Paulus Noa confirmed Nikodemus’ arrest, but says he and his two co-accused were eventually found not guilty in the Oshakati Regional Court.

Nikodemus and a co-accused were arrested in 2017 for allegedly defrauding Ongwediva Town Council of N$3 million between 2009 and 2012 and were later released on bail.

Political analyst Sakaria Johannes says he has no problem with the president appointing a task team member only accused, and not convicted, of corruption.

“That person doesn’t have a criminal record yet, isn’t it?” he asks.

Coetzee, meanwhile, says most members of the task forces are unknown and their capabilities are not known to the public.

“What is their past performance and the terms which set out how they need to perform? Transparency is a governance issue,” he says.

Coetzee says many people on the task force were appointed based on their political connections.

“They are not critical of government policies, and that’s exactly where the problem is. So this is window dressing, I don’t see people who are critical thinkers,” he says.

Businessman and O&L Group boss Sven Thieme, who is a member of the panel on the economy, says his 27-year track record speaks for itself.

Thieme says given the president’s willingness to replace Cabinet ministers who do not deliver, task force members would have to stay on their toes.

“I think our new president has shown she wants to get things implemented and wants to deal with those who don’t have discipline. So I’m hopeful that we’ll have better execution than before,” he says.

State House did not respond to questions by the time of going to print.

National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende says the task force members operate on a voluntary basis.

“There is no budget allocation, but obviously there will always be small incidentals, but it has no bearing on the finances of the government,” he says.

The task forces will meet once a week for discussions and report back to the ministries.

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