… Kaanjuka fires warning salvo

 

WINDHOEK – Dismayed Acting Director of Sport  Norii Kaanjuka has strongly cautioned corrupt sports administrators to stop their antics and abide by the set rules, adding that his ministry is well prepared to tackle any hint of corruption with bare knuckles.

Kaanjuka’s warning follows hot on the heels of a New Era Sport expose on damaging claims of abuse of power and the alleged illegal occupation of plum positions in the Namibia Boxing Federation (NBF), a practice that is very much against the spirit of the Namibian Sports Act of 2003.

At the centre of the storm is NBF long-serving president, Kelly Nghixulifwa, who stands accused of abuse of power and having overstayed the NBF presidency – having headed the country’s boxing federation for two decades. Also in the mix of things is Katutura Central Constituency Councillor, Ambrosius Kandjii, fingered to be unfittingly in the sporting discipline’s administration.

In Kandjii’s case, it is clearly stated in subsection (6), part-2 of the National Sport Bodies and National Umbrella Sports Bodies Act, “That a person may be disqualified for appointment or to hold office as a member, if the person is a member of the National Assembly or of a Regional Council or Local Authority Council.”

Regarding Nghixulifwa, the Act reads verbatim: ”A person does not qualify to hold office for more than ten years before the date of the proposed appointment.”

Speaking to New Era Sport yesterday, Kaanjuka was however a bit scratchy in revealing how the ministry was planning to tackle this burning but nevertheless promised that the ministry would get to the bottom of the shenanigans. He added that the ministry would conduct its own investigation into all the allegations and in due course pronounce itself on the matter upon the findings of the investigation.

Kaanjuka also used the opportunity to condemn all practices of maladministration and urged sports administrators to refrain from unlawful dealings as it heavily contributes to the unwarranted degradation of Namibian sports.

Approached for comment, a ducking chairperson of the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC), Vivienne Katjiuongua, said she was not well enough prepared to engage herself  on the issue but however promised to  comment at a later stage after having done her own investigation.

As the presiding sports body, NSC is wholly responsible for efficiently and properly managing and controlling the development of all sports activities; to ensure proper administration of national sports bodies and national umbrella sports bodies; to promote the highest standards of sportsmanship and to ensure that opportunities for sport are made available to all persons throughout Namibia.

Meanwhile, efforts to get feedback from Kandjii proved fruitless, as his mobile phone was inactive for the better part of yesterday.

By Otniel Hembapu