AR Activist Dr Job Amupanda continues to release information revealing S&T allowances that were allegedly paid irregularly to the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi.

In its response, the ministry said there was nothing untoward in the payment of these international daily subsistance allowances.

Dr Job Amupanda has published on his social media pages proof of payment, which he claims was made to the minister, for trips that were already funded by international partners.

 Dr Amupanda's week-long anti-corruption campaign against the minister has been so vociferous that he received a threatening letter from Murangi's lawyer, demanding an unconditional public apology for the allegations.

Amupanda defied this demand with another letter, in which he advised the lawyer to instead investigate his client.

In a statement issued by the ministry, the Executive Director, Dr Alfred Van Kent, admitted that UNAM, NUST and NTA were approached by the ministry to assist in paying for Dr Murangi's travel allowances.

He says the public institutions were refunded accordingly, adding there is nothing sinister as all these institutions are under the minister of higher education.

Amupanda further accuses the minister of receiving funds from UNESCO Namibia and UNESCO International while allegedly claiming the same from her ministry, including for trips that were cancelled.

Minister Kandjii-Murangi, according to Amupanda, received between N$100,000 and N$40,000 from the Namibia University of Science and Technology for the UNESCO trip to the US.

Other trips for which S&T was paid were, among others, to Malaysia, South Korea, and Paris.

S&T claims amounting to N$300,000 and N$10,000 were also paid by the University of Namibia, and a further N$800,000 was paid by the Namibia Training Authority for various other overseas trips.

Dr Amupanda this week further claims to have evidence that the Namibia Students Assistance Fund paid for the minister's business trip to visit her Malaysian Business Partners, the Limkokwing University.

The Ministry's ED, Alfred Dr Van Kent, says he has all the documentation concerning these trips and will provide details of all monies paid to the minister, as daily travel and subsistence allowances, to any institution of law requiring it.

He concludes by saying that the minister is committed to fighting corruption and building an ethical nation, contrary to accusations by Dr Amupanda that she is corrupt.
 

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Emil Seibeb