Windhoek
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has exonerated the International University of Management (IUM) of allegations of corruptly issuing Master’s degree certificates, following allegations by a disgruntled IUM staff member.
Allegations of corrupt practices were reported to the ACC to the effect that IUM issued Bachelor and Master’s degree certificates to candidates who had not registered with the institution.
The students who were implicated in the allegations of corruption are Sidney Lulanga, Verlistars Lumba and David Akuunda. It was also alleged the candidates did not attend classes and never submitted any projects or thesis in the faculty of humanities, HIV/AIDS and Social Development.
“Statements and documents obtained during the investigation confirm that the three students procedurally registered with the IUM for their study programme and were procedurally supervised by their respective supervisors.
The allegations by the complainant has no substance at all. They were not awarded fake degrees, as by the impression created by the complainant,” ACC Director General Paulus Noa stated.
Documents seen by New Era further indicate that the complainant was summoned by the ACC, but he failed to give substantive proof in support of the allegations.
“The allegations against the students are unfounded. At the time of the investigation, Mr Akuunda was registered for a Master’s degree, but has not been awarded such degree as he is yet to complete his degree programme,” Noa said.
Furthermore, the ACC was provided with copies of the thesis of the students implicated in the allegations.
“Statements were also obtained from the lecturers, who were involved in the supervision of the same students during their studies, as well as statements of other lecturers, who could provide substantive information on the allegations.
Supporting documents and information in proof of their registration with IUM were also provided to the Commission,” the ACC indicated.
“The Commission, after assessing all the evidence gathered, finds that the allegations against IUM and the three students are unfounded and baseless. No corrupt practices were committed in registering the three students. There was also no corruption involved in awarding the degrees to any of the three students. The allegations are dismissed as false, as they lack substance,” Noa said.