The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused TransNamib, a state-owned railway company in Namibia, of shielding senior executives from disciplinary action. This has raised concerns over political interference, corporate governance, and unequal accountability. According to IPC shadow minister of works and transport Nelson Kalangula, disciplinary proceedings against two senior executives have not started despite being suspended in February 2026.
The two executives, who were suspended following allegations of property mismanagement, statutory breaches, and irregularities in the disposal of property, were later reinstated in May 2026. This was after an intervention by the minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi. Kalangula stated that Nekundi had indicated that disciplinary hearings would proceed without delay, but they have yet to commence.
The IPC has expressed concerns that the continued postponements could be "calculated delay tactics" intended to allow the matter to lose public attention. Reports that hearings scheduled for the previous week were stalled because one of the executives had been booked off sick have raised further concerns about whether administrative processes are being deliberately delayed.
The IPC has highlighted what it describes as "gross double standards" in the application of disciplinary measures at TransNamib. While junior employees have faced swift disciplinary action, including termination and forced resignations, senior executives facing allegations of serious mismanagement appear to be receiving a different standard of treatment.
The party has questioned the minister's decision to order the reinstatement of the suspended executives, arguing that this could undermine the independence of the TransNamib Board. The IPC has also questioned the value of forensic investigations commissioned by state-owned enterprises if their findings are not acted upon.
The IPC has called on the minister of works and transport and the TransNamib Board to publicly clarify the legal and administrative status of the allegations against the two executives. The party also wants TransNamib to establish firm and binding dates for the disciplinary hearings and publish a schedule for their conclusion.
The handling of this case could influence public perceptions of accountability across Namibia's state-owned enterprises. The IPC has emphasized that the rule of law must apply equally to all, from operational staff to executive suites. The party is seeking guarantees of unbiased due process and ensuring that executives implicated in forensic audit findings are not cleared through informal arrangements.
Key points
- The IPC accuses TransNamib of shielding senior executives from disciplinary action.
- The executives were suspended in February 2026 but reinstated in May 2026 following ministerial intervention.
- The IPC is calling for transparent and timely disciplinary proceedings against the executives.
