A medical training college, Shiramed Medical Institute, has clarified that it does not accept cattle or other goods as direct payment for tuition fees, following reports that students were paying their fees through bartering.
The institute says the arrangement dates back to a period before students could access funding through the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF). At the time, some parents approached management, offering to settle their children's tuition fees using cattle and other goods.
The institute, a subsidiary of Kamunu Holdings, which also operates an abattoir, allowed them to sell their cattle to the abattoir, then directed the proceeds towards the students' tuition fees.
Director of Kamunu Holdings, Suhail Mhamiee, clarified, "What has been presented in the media recently contains many misconceptions. Some people are suggesting that students are bringing cattle to the school, which raises questions about where the school would keep the cattle. In reality, the students are selling their cattle to an abattoir that is part of the same company as the school. This process is no different from selling to any other abattoir, even if Meatco were still operational. The proceeds from the sale are then used to settle their tuition fees."
The clarification comes after officials from the Ministry of Education met with the institute's management to address the public misconception.
The Deputy Executive Director for Higher Education, Training, Research and Innovation, Dr.Lisho Mundia, advised the institution to publicly clarify the misleading reports.
"You must separate businesses. I do understand fully what you mean, but you really need to separate businesses, so my first way forward, in fact, I'm just giving you directives on what to do: retract the practice completely and, secondly, release a media statement as an institute and make a media statement to correct facts."
Dr. Mundia said that although bartering remains a common practice in some communities, the law does not allow tuition fees to be paid through such arrangements.
He cautioned against the spread of unverified information, saying it could damage the reputation of legitimate local businesses and discourage investment in the education sector.
He added that the Zambezi Region's strategic location, bordering four countries, presents significant opportunities for business and education, making it important to protect the credibility of legitimate institutions.