The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned Namibia Airports Company (NAC) chief executive officer Bisey /Uirab to appear before the commission as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corrupt practices at the state-owned company. The summons, issued on September 9, directed /Uirab to appear before authorised officer Matias Amadhila at the ACC headquarters in Windhoek.
The ACC is investigating several transactions and appointments at NAC, including the awarding of a tender for the renovation of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting facility at Hosea Kutako International Airport. The commission has requested information and documentation relating to the tender, including the advertisement, evaluation and award documents, as well as requisitions, invoices, purchase orders and proof of payment linked to the project.
The summons also covers the appointment of Monalise Jacobs as head of internal audit and the appointment of the executive responsible for human resources under Patterson Grading E in 2021. The ACC has requested the NAC to produce the approved organisational structure, advertisement of the position, applications received, interview scorecards and the interview panel’s recommendation, together with the board resolution approving the appointment and Jacobs’ employment contract.
Internal NAC documents seen by the Windhoek Observer raise questions about procurement procedures, recruitment processes, employment arrangements and the disposal of company vehicles. The records relate to the evaluation and eventual award of the contract to Brumar Construction CC for the Hosea Kutako International Airport fire-fighting facility renovation tender.
The contract awarded to Brumar was valued at approximately N$827,000, while the contractor allegedly abandoned the project after receiving an estimated N$348,000 advance payment. However, an official close to the matter said that NAC ultimately avoided additional costs after the contractor abandoned the project, using its maintenance employees to complete the project at a lower cost than the original contract.
The appointment of Jacobs as head of internal audit and Josephine Soroses, the executive responsible for human resources, are also under scrutiny. Records appear to raise questions about the recruitment process and the circumstances under which they were appointed and subsequently graded. An official familiar with the matter said there were records of Jacobs’ documents during an internal investigation into her appointment.
The ACC’s investigation is ongoing, and the existence of an investigation should not automatically be interpreted as an indication that the individuals or institution under scrutiny have committed an offence. The commission is seeking information and documentation to establish the facts surrounding transactions and decisions at NAC.
Key points
- The Anti-Corruption Commission has summoned Namibia Airports Company CEO Bisey /Uirab over alleged corrupt practices.
- The ACC is investigating several transactions and appointments at NAC.
- Internal documents raise questions about procurement procedures and recruitment processes at NAC.
