Unam probes alleged fraud

THE University of Namibia says an investigation into alleged fraudulent practices by a lecturer has reached an advanced stage.

Unam Director of Communications and Marketing Edwin Ngutjiua Tjiramba said Unam was aware of the issues surrounding lecturer Prof. Martin Mbewe for some time now and “was and is in the process of investigating the matter including the alleged misuse of the vehicles”. Prof. Mbewe from the Science and Biology Faculty is alleged to have used the institution’s name to lay his hands on a research project from the US-based Smithsonian Institute and to have used Unam’s vehicles and students to conduct the work.The work was done while Unam was on recess.The project was worth US$30 000 and the Smithsonian is believed to have paid the money to Mbewe.It all came to light when Mbewe hired one of the students and promised to pay him N$12 000.He allegedly paid the student, Michael Ndengejeho, N$3 000 and had been reluctant to part with the rest of the funds.It resulted in a fall-out between the two and Ndengejeho’s father, Pascal, blew the whistle.Mbewe confirmed that he had since settled a N$9 000 debt and tried to persuade The Namibian not to report on the matter.He neither confirmed nor denied having used Unam’s Combi and Hi-Ace which he allegedly booked out in the names of a certain AH Nangonya and MU Katjirua.Tjiramba said it was to early to make a statement on the issue.”Whether disciplinary actions will be taken or not will depend on the outcome of the investigation, which is at an advanced stage,” he said.Pascal Ndengejeho claimed that Mbewe paid his son N$3 000 as an advance and was supposed to follow up with a further N$9 000.He had given him three cheques of N$2 000, N$2 000 and N$5 000 to be deposited on the 15 of May, June and July, but he had cancelled the last cheque without informing the Ndengejeho’s.When Ndengejeho took the issue up with him, he told them that he had a death in the family and had to urgently leave for Zambia.In the meantime, he had informed the Smithsonian that he had paid the students.The Ndengejeho’s approached Unam for help and, although informed that the institution was not directly involved in the project, Vice Chancellor Professor Lazarus Hangula undertook to investigate the matter.Prof. Mbewe from the Science and Biology Faculty is alleged to have used the institution’s name to lay his hands on a research project from the US-based Smithsonian Institute and to have used Unam’s vehicles and students to conduct the work.The work was done while Unam was on recess.The project was worth US$30 000 and the Smithsonian is believed to have paid the money to Mbewe.It all came to light when Mbewe hired one of the students and promised to pay him N$12 000.He allegedly paid the student, Michael Ndengejeho, N$3 000 and had been reluctant to part with the rest of the funds.It resulted in a fall-out between the two and Ndengejeho’s father, Pascal, blew the whistle.Mbewe confirmed that he had since settled a N$9 000 debt and tried to persuade The Namibian not to report on the matter.He neither confirmed nor denied having used Unam’s Combi and Hi-Ace which he allegedly booked out in the names of a certain AH Nangonya and MU Katjirua.Tjiramba said it was to early to make a statement on the issue.”Whether disciplinary actions will be taken or not will depend on the outcome of the investigation, which is at an advanced stage,” he said.Pascal Ndengejeho claimed that Mbewe paid his son N$3 000 as an advance and was supposed to follow up with a further N$9 000.He had given him three cheques of N$2 000, N$2 000 and N$5 000 to be deposited on the 15 of May, June and July, but he had cancelled the last cheque without informing the Ndengejeho’s.When Ndengejeho took the issue up with him, he told them that he had a death in the family and had to urgently leave for Zambia.In the meantime, he had informed the Smithsonian that he had paid the students.The Ndengejeho’s approached Unam for help and, although informed that the institution was not directly involved in the project, Vice Chancellor Professor Lazarus Hangula undertook to investigate the matter.