2016-12-12Staff Report 2 Windhoek Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has challenged those accusing her of using her position to advance the private interests of individuals at the expense of the interests of the State and the public to come forth with evidence. She was reacting to a report in The Namibian newspaper on Friday, in which questions were raised as to whether prominent businessman Vaino Nghipondoka was related to the prime minister and if that had anything to do with why he has won many multi-million dollar State contracts. “The prime minister strongly rejects these accusations as false and malicious. These accusations are baseless and aimed at tarnishing the name and track record of the prime minister,” a statement issued yesterday by her office reads. “The prime minister has always upheld the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all her dealings and has never compromised, or failed to protect the State or public interests. At no point in executing her public functions did the prime minister act in any manner that promoted the interests of her relatives or friends above those of the State and the larger Namibian public, or to influence government decisions in favour of anyone,” the statement further reads. “Besides that, as a policy maker, she has not been involved in decisions to allocate tenders, as this function is administered by an autonomous body, the Tender Board of Namibia. Any individual who believes that he/she has evidence of interference by the prime minister in the allocation of State contracts in her current or previous public positions is challenged to bring such evidence out.” Any contract signed by her in whatever capacity she has represented the State were signed after thorough review and approval by Cabinet and after due advice and clearance by the State legal advisors, the PM’s office said. “It must be emphasised that any person with evidence to the contrary is advised to submit such evidence to the designated accountability institutions of the State for investigation.” 2016-12-12Staff Report 2
