TILENI MONGUDHI and MATHIAS HAUFIKUNAMIBIA Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam) executive director Maria Nangolo is under fire for allegedly suspending and hiring officials without approval.
The government-run Nipam which was created, among others, to boost performance of the public service, is now at a crossroads.
Nipam council chairperson George Simataa wrote to fellow council members last month, requesting them to discuss Nangolo’s position, including her decision to suspend three senior officials and appointing a foreign national without council approval.
Nangolo suspended Bonadei Thekwane (quality assurance manager), Nguvitjita Zatjirua (finance manager) and Kachana Sezuni (governance and compliance officer) last year.
Nipam sources said the suspended trio was charged with offences such as corruptly using company information during a tender process, misbehaviour and insubordination.
A case has also been opened with the Anti-Corruption Commission against the suspended employees.
Nipam documents show that the boardroom battle between Simataa and Nangolo has escalated since her arrival, corroborating speculation that the secretary to Cabinet wants her out.
Simataa, who was responsible for removing former Nipam boss Joseph Diescho in 2015, said in his memo that he had received several complaints from employees last year.
He expressed concern over the mass exodus of experienced staff from Nipam.
Simataa also raised concern about poor employee relations and the effects thereof on the overall performance of the organisation.
“The performance of Nipam is not encouraging relative to organisational financial targets and the number of trainees. The extent to which employees are engaged to cultivate a favourable employment climate, is doubtful,” said Simataa.
He now wants an employee climate survey and 360-degree leadership survey to be conducted.
According to Simataa, Nipam has so far spent over N$200 000 in legal fees for disciplinary hearings.
Shikongo Law Chambers has been appointed to conduct the disciplinary hearings.
“Whereas none of the above (Sezuni, Thekwane and Zatjirua) have been warned, the continued subjection of the three employees to disciplinary process without justifiable legal cause and evidence is likely to cause further unnecessary costs to Nipam as each of the three employees are privately represented,” he said.
He also questioned why the trio remains on suspension yet the probes instituted against them were completed and their disciplinary hearings commenced. The three have been suspended on full pay.
Simataa insisted that Nipam’s governing council has the right to halt a disciplinary process and quash hearings if they conclude that the charges against the three employees will cause bad relations and unnecessary labour unrest and costs.
He also questioned Nangolo’s decision to hire a foreign national at the information technology department.
“The governing council did not approve the appointment of a non-Namibian for purposes of performing e-learning functions. Similarly, during 2018, the position manager: e-learning was, at the request of the executive director, abolished from the establishment of Nipam,” Simataa said, adding that no request to restore it was made.
Simataa said the governing council is tasked with approving appointments of every non-Namibian.
Simataa proposed that council discuss the issues at last Friday’s meeting but the members requested a postponement since Nangolo was not in the country at the time.
She is also accused of appointing a finance and administration director without a council resolution.
understands that Simataa is likely to recommend action be taken against Nangolo.
Simataa refused to answer questions when approached for comment this week.
“Your questions are personal matters that I am not at liberty to discuss with the media,” he said.
Nangolo did not comment when contacted over the weekend. She referred all queries to Simataa.
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