Lahja Nashuuta
As the Namibia National Teachers Union gears up for the national congress, slated for 27 August 2024 in Swakopmund, allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption have surfaced.
At the centre of the storm is Nantu secretary general Loide Shaanika, who is accused of using the union’s funds to campaign for re-election at the upcoming congress.
New Era has learnt that she is fighting tooth and nail to defend her territory.
She has been in the position for five years now.
Before that, between 2010 and 2019, she was the union’s deputy secretary general.
Detailed questions sent to her over a week ago are yet to be responded to.
She, however, allegedly told her inner circle that she would sue this journalist and New Era, should the allegations she faces be published.
Sources revealed that current Nantu deputy secretary general Thomas Niilonga is also eyeing the same position.
It is alleged that Shaanika has given some Nantu regional coordinators N$25 000 to buy votes. New Era has been reliably informed that, except for Zambezi, Kavango West, Kavango East, Hardap and Karas regions, all other regional coordinators were given money to pay for the delegates to attend the said congress.
Furthermore, Shaanika and one key
leader have been accused of borrowing
N$8 900 from Nantu in 2014, monies they never paid back. It is further alleged that she uses her power to have funds transferred from Nantu’s account to one of the staff’s accounts, whose bank card is in her possession.
Further, according to sources, when Nantu travelled to Botswana for the Southern Africa Teachers’ Organisation’s 2023 Solidarity Games, hosted by the Botswana Teachers Union, an amount of N$320 000 was transferred to the said staffer’s account.
“Currently, the funds meant for organising the upcoming congress and paying the service providers are also paid into that private account from the union’s account,” said one of the leaders, who preferred anonymity, citing possible victimisation.
However, Isabel Ngaiko, one of the senior financial officers, denied all allegations, labelling them as “false information”.
“Those are all just lies as people try to campaign for the positions. All the funds released out of the union were for the planned activities, and were approved by management. We have a sound financial audited report that will be presented at the congress,” she maintained.
She further appealed to those gunning for positions at the congress to do so without resorting to mudslinging and decampaigning tactics.
“There are leaders who are out to destroy the organisation, and advocating disunity, infighting and instability as part of their campaigns to take control of the teachers’ union. People must not try to tarnish others’ image,” she said. -lnashuuta@gmail.com