Martin Endjala
The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) executive director Wilhelmine Shivute has refuted Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda’s claims that the ministry spent N$8 million on a single spare part for the NDF’s Wer’wolf armoured vehicle.
The Wer’wolf MK2 is a Namibian-designed and -built military vehicle that offers protection against small arms fire and landmines.
At a media conference on Wednesday, Shivute said that the ministry did not purchase a single spare part but rather over 14 different parts.
“It is true that the invoice quantified quantity indicated one. However, one does not denote one spare part, but it means a spare part of one brand of vehicle. If their brands were more than one, it would have been reflected as such,” she said.
She accused Amupanda of deliberately misleading the public by misrepresenting the invoice.
The spare parts were necessary for the Wer’wolf vehicles to participate in a bilateral peace support training exercise, “Hanganeni II,” held with Botswana in June 2023 in the Omaheke region.
According to Shivute, although the procurement process was completed, no payments were made due to the closure of the 2022/2023 financial year.
“No payment was made because it was during the closure of the financial year 2022-2023, notwithstanding that no money was paid,” she said.
This contradicted Amupanda’s claims of misappropriation.
Shivute challenged him to provide proof of payment, distribution of funds, and alleged recipients.
“Amupanda has alleged that N$8 million was distributed in the pockets of those that are supporting a corrupt party. I’m sure he can produce proof of payment, the distribution pattern and probably the recipients,” she said.
Shivute was reacting to a video circulated by Amupanda.
On Tuesday, Amupanda took to his social media to disclose a six-page quotation invoice document containing the various parts and prices to the tune of N$8 million from Windhoeker Machinen Fabrik.
Amupanda claimed that the money was distributed into the pockets of those supporting the Swapo party to buy favours.
He accused MODVA of being part of a larger scheme of looting public funds.
“Voting for them on 27 November means the continuity of stealing and looting,” said Amupanda.
Prior to the media conference, Amupanda warned Shivute against hosting it.
“Those of you close to her, please tell her to be very very very careful in her press conference or else she will need to hold another one,” he said.
Journalists were allowed to peruse, but not photograph (for security reasons), the six-page invoice during the briefing.
The document listed over 14 different spare parts, some of which were ordered in quantities ranging from 700 to 1000.
Parts included wheel brakes, power steering components, and replacement fuel filters, with individual prices ranging between N$25 000 and N$500 000.
At the time of publishing this article, Amupanda had not responded to questions sent to him.
The Windhoek Observer wanted to know if he had laid any criminal charges against the personnel at MODVA or reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata confirmed that they have not received any corruption cases on the subject matter given that the document has been made public.
She said the public will be informed such charges have been laid.
Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga, the head of Nampol’s public relations, also confirmed that no public member has yet filed any corruption charges in relation to the issue.
