By Magreth Nunuhe
WINDHOEK – Staff of the Centres of the Community Skills Development Foundation (COSDEF) have accused the organisation’s Board of Directors and some senior officials of alleged nepotism, abuse of power and corruption.
At the centre of the allegations is the human resource, administration and finance manager, Rene Farmer, whom they allege runs COSDEF, a public institution funded with state money, like a “private kitchen or a private farm where favouritism is rife”.
COSDEF is a registered trust co-ordinating, supporting and supervising the various Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs) and other training providers that offer competency-based skills training to various communities throughout Namibia – primarily the youth and previously disadvantaged groups.
Sources, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, alluded to board meetings sometimes being held, but staff members have no access to minutes usually kept under wraps. The same board has apparently been in existence since 1997 without new elections or efforts made to replace or change them.
“The whole organisation is manipulated by Farmer, who acted as the support unit manager from 2008 – 2010 without approval of the board,” said one source that claimed Farmer also has no formal qualifications.
The source further claimed the board asked her to restructure the organisation but instead she hired close friends without advertising the vacant posts.
The source alleged Farmer was “given” the position of “HR, Administration and Finance” without a formal interview being conducted.
“She is the highest paid with a salary of N$35 000 per month, and she gets paid more than her boss Mr Jeremy Muller who gets N$30 000 per month,” claimed the source.
Another source alleged Farmer was the only person in the whole organisation that got a housing allowance and a car allowance and has bought herself a house in Tamariskia in Swakopmund and a state-of-the-art BMW 320.
The organisation was based at the Namibia Training Authority’s (NTA) headquarters in Windhoek, where it was apparently not paying rent, but Farmer seemingly misinformed the board and moved the organisation to Swakopmund where they are paying astronomical amounts for rent at “nice seaside, sea view flats”.
“She hires and fires employees as she likes and has more authority than the support unit manager Mr Jeremy Muller,” the source lashed out, claiming that Farmer single-handedly fired the head of the centre in Omaheke while the latter was still on suspension and was being investigated by COSDEF.
“Many former staff members left because of her manipulative ways,” they alleged.
Another source claimed Farmer sold two company cars – a Toyota bakkie 2.7 and VW Polo to people with ties to her while no tender, auction or advert was placed in newspapers.
Staff members are apparently also forced to travel from Windhoek to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay with shuttles owned by her former husband while no tender was advertised for an official transporter for the organisation.
Two Scandinavians consultants were appointed to restructure the organisation three years ago, but their recommendations and findings were seemingly thrown into the dustbin and even though the two consultants’ terms of reference allegedly expired with their visas, they are still around and doing nothing.
Approached for comment, Muller flatly denied all the allegations made against Farmer and the board, saying that although it was not the policy of COSDEF’s management to respond to allegations and complaints based on rumours and hearsay, they would do so for the sake of the organisation’s reputation.
On claims that COSDEF’s board was non-existent, Muller said board meetings were held regularly and they had documentation of minutes to prove just that.
He said that minutes of board meetings often contained references to personnel issues and could therefore not be distributed in full length.
“COSDEC managers are informed about the main discussions and summaries are distributed. Board members also visit the individual COSDECs regularly to monitor progress,” said Muller.
He dismissed claims the same board has been in existence since 1997 and said that the Master of the High Court in fact registered the board in June 2006 as a trust.
On the complaints that Farmer manipulates the whole organisation, Muller said the allegations were vague and unsubstantiated, stressing that no one can act in a senior management position without approval of the board.
The unit manager further dismissed allegations that Farmer has no formal qualifications as her curriculum vitae could provide evidence of that.
In addition, he said, she was never tasked to do any restructuring.
He said allegations that Farmer was the highest paid were also not true as the support unit manager was indeed the highest paid employee.
He said it was also not true that Farmer was “given” her current post without an interview as CO Holdings cc did the recruitment.
He said that housing and vehicle allowances are provided to any staff member with proper proof thereof for tax relief purposes, while the payroll is outsourced and dealt with by Sachse Payroll, a company based in Windhoek.
On why the support unit was moved to Swakopmund, Muller said it was based on approval by the board to oversee the design and construction of the new multi-million Arts and Crafts Centre and Mahetago Training Centre in Swakopmund, which is funded by the Millennium Challenge Account.
“More so, various donor projects justified the relocation temporarily, i.e. ICEIDA and American Embassy funds for Mahetago Training Centre, American Embassy funds for building the ECD kindergarten at Vrede Rede School in Mondesa, and the BowValley Canada partnership agreement relevant only to the Erongo Region, amongst others,” he stated.
About the Omaheke employee who was fired, he said during the initial hearing the staff member was dismissed following a hearing in her absence and the position was advertised.
“But the process was reversed and is currently underway,” he explained.
On the sales of vehicles, he said the vehicles depreciated and the sales were approved by the board, while the tender was advertised in two dailies.
Vehicles were apparently sold through a closed bid tender process.
“None of the persons who bought the vehicles had any personal tie to Ms Farmer,” insisted Muller.
He further dismissed allegations about the official organisation transporter, saying that no such instructions exist as they own vehicles stationed at each centre.
He said staff receive travel allowances and make their own travel arrangements.
About the foreign consultants, Muller said they were recruited through an international tender by MCA-Namibia and assigned to support COSDEF within the areas of strategic planning, institutional development and training support.
“They commenced working in January 2012 on a 28-months contract. So far, all findings and recommendations have been accepted and the proposed reforms implemented as per board approval. The terms of reference cover the period January 2012 to May 2014. Both consultants have valid visas and work permits for the entire period,” he said