The Department of Transport in Namibia does not have an approved IT disaster recovery plan, leaving critical government transportation data at risk. This finding was made by Auditor-General Junias Etuna Kandjeke as part of a qualified audit opinion on the Department of Transport's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The audit revealed several weaknesses in the department's financial controls, record-keeping, operational systems, and information technology.
The audit identified significant underspending of the department's approved budget, with N$143.8 million, or 5.72%, of available funds unspent. The Auditor-General noted that these funds could have been redirected to other priority national needs. The IT vulnerability is part of wider operational weaknesses identified during the audit. The lack of a disaster recovery plan means there are no approved arrangements to ensure the recovery of critical information and systems following a major IT disruption.
The audit also found significant weaknesses at the Keetmanshoop government garage in the //Kharas region. Several government vehicles had remained abandoned and non-operational for extended periods due to a lack of spare parts. The workshop store lacked formal handover procedures, appointment letters for clerks, and properly maintained job cards for tracking work. These findings highlight the need for improved management and oversight of government resources.
The Auditor-General's report also raised concerns about the department's financial management. The department could not provide signed contracts and supporting documentation for N$8.33 million paid to four suppliers for capital infrastructure projects. Additionally, 53 vehicles valued at N$35.5 million were purchased during the financial year but not recorded in the official pool vehicle registers. Auditors were also not provided with payment, issuing, or receipt vouchers for the vehicles.
Further accounting irregularities were identified, including over N$200,000 in travel, subsistence, danger, and risk allowances that were incorrectly charged to construction and renovation expenditure codes. The department also spent N$18.46 million on the DR4103 Okatana-Amutanga-Omulathitu-Onanime road project through a general maintenance ledger, despite there being no specific approved budget allocation for the project.
The Auditor-General questioned N$37.3 million in reported outstanding commitments attributed to insufficient funds, with the department failing to provide supporting documentation for several overtime claims and supplier payments. The department's Performance Management System was rated unsatisfactory, failing to provide reasonable assurance that services were being delivered to the public.
The findings contributed to the qualified audit opinion issued on the department's accounts for the 2024/25 financial year. The department's lack of a disaster recovery plan, significant underspending, and accounting irregularities highlight the need for improved management and oversight of government resources. The Auditor-General's report emphasizes the importance of addressing these weaknesses to ensure the effective delivery of public services.
Key points
- The Department of Transport lacks an approved IT disaster recovery plan, leaving critical data vulnerable to loss or becoming unretrievable.
- The department underspent its budget by N$143.8 million, representing 5.72% of available funds.
- The audit identified significant weaknesses in the department's financial controls, record-keeping, operational systems, and information technology.
