2005-12-08Staff Report 2 "By Kuvee Kangueehi Windhoek The ""clean up operation"" that has started at the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation claimed its second victim yesterday when the General Manager of Technical Services Ruben Prinz was suspended. The suspension of the GM comes less than two weeks after the suspension and subsequent resignation of the former Director General Gerry Munyama. New Era learned late yesterday afternoon that Prinz was suspended following a lengthy meeting with NBC board members yesterday morning. It is alleged that Prinz, who was responsible for capital projects was suspended on grounds that he flouted tender regulations. An NBC insider told New Era yesterday it is alleged that Prinz used to present half figures of totals earmarked for purchases, thereby flouting tender rules. He would for instance divide total amounts needed for a project in order to avoid tender stipulations on authorised amounts. According to NBC regulations, any project exceeding N$100 000 has to go through a tender process. Small pro-jects only need three quotations. Some of the capital projects that were overseen by Prinz include the renovations of the NBC offices in Oshakati and the construction of the NBC gate at its headquarters, the latter said to have cost the organisation over N$2 million. The tender to renovate the Oshakati office was won by Oshakati businessman Onesmus Amadhila. For one of the tenders that led to the suspension of Prinz, he exceeded authorised payment by awarding N$900 000. Meanwhile, Cabinet has resolved to remove former NBC DG, Munyama, from the New Era Board. Cabinet resolved to keep the other board members, namely Vil-bard Usiku (chairman), Sirkka Ausiku, Ndapeua Shifiona and Milton ya Otto for another five-year term and appointed Unam public relations officer Katrina Sikeni in the place of Munyama. Munyama, who is currently on bail of N$20 000 has been charged with fraud and theft amounting to N$346 000 from the public broadcaster. The former DG is being accused of a host of issues and apart from allegedly defrauding the NBC through the so-called ""Executive Account"" to which he had exclusive access, the former DG is also believed to owe NBC around N$70 000. The debt accrued after Mu-nyama exceeded his monthly entertainment allowance of N$6 000. Apart from the debt, the former NBC boss reportedly lent some associates tens of thousands of dollars from the public broadcaster." 2005-12-08Staff Report 2
