The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) board is yet to access a forensic audit report, which was requested by senior officials and consider its merits, says the parastatal’s chief executive officer, Digu //Naobeb.
The CEO wrote a three page letter in response to recent media reports three weeks ago.
//Naobeb, who dismissed alleged industrial disharmony at the parastatal, also defended former board chairperson Erica Akuenje, who allegedly made a double travel allowance claim for the same trip, which totalled to about N$50 000.
The Namibian reported last month that senior NTB employees requested the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to conduct a forensic audit at NTB following claims of alleged mismanagement. However, eleven months after the request, nothing seems to have been done.
//Naobeb said they are aware of a request by senior management that was made in December last year, adding that the board is yet to access and consider the merit of such audit as proposed by the management.
“Once management has submitted the terms of reference and it is established that there are sufficient grounds of evidence warranting such audit, a final decision will be made as this is an expensive exercise,” he said.
The Namibian reported last month that a complaint was submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) by disgruntled Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) workers on the allegations that Akuenje had made double subsistence and travel (S&T) claims for a trip to Europe.
//Naobeb defended his former board chairperson saying her trip was commissioned and as reported, procedurally approved by the minister.
“Her S&T at NTB was calculated in line with the NTB S&T policy and covered expenses for accommodation, meals and incidentals during the trip to three countries in Europe that had to be paid in foreign currency,” he said.
Akuenje received a cheque for N$35 111 from the NTB in 2010 as subsistence and traveling (S&T) allowances for the two-week trip to Europe to attend the World Travel Market Trade Fair.
After returning to Namibia, Akuenje allegedly also claimed S&T from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The Namibian is in possession of a government claim form for S&T allowances amounting to N$12 723. This amount was approved.
Last month, Akuenje described the close to N$50 000 in S&T payments for a 14-day trip as “nothing.”
The NTB also rubbished such claims saying that a board commissioned investigation found that there was nothing wrong with decisions taken by the CEO of the parastatal.
The Namibian also reported that //Naobeb has been accused by his staff members of favouritism, which they said has caused a lack of “industrial peace and harmony” in the organisation, and this began as far as 2011.
//Naobeb who is also being accused of dictatorship said labour issues that were stated in a staff petition were clarified and they are working with the union to reduce industrial conflicts.
Continuing defending his institution, //Naobeb also stood-by the board which was critisised by workers for failing to consult them in matters that affect them or the company.
He refuted claims that he influenced the board, adding that the body exercises objectivity in its governance functions and considers all matters with a critical mind.
Question marks were also placed on how the tender of building their head offices was issued, and again, //Naobeb pleaded innocence saying the tender was advertised.
The CEO wrote a three page letter in response to recent media reports three weeks ago.
//Naobeb, who dismissed alleged industrial disharmony at the parastatal, also defended former board chairperson Erica Akuenje, who allegedly made a double travel allowance claim for the same trip, which totalled to about N$50 000.
The Namibian reported last month that senior NTB employees requested the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to conduct a forensic audit at NTB following claims of alleged mismanagement. However, eleven months after the request, nothing seems to have been done.
//Naobeb said they are aware of a request by senior management that was made in December last year, adding that the board is yet to access and consider the merit of such audit as proposed by the management.
“Once management has submitted the terms of reference and it is established that there are sufficient grounds of evidence warranting such audit, a final decision will be made as this is an expensive exercise,” he said.
The Namibian reported last month that a complaint was submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) by disgruntled Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) workers on the allegations that Akuenje had made double subsistence and travel (S&T) claims for a trip to Europe.
//Naobeb defended his former board chairperson saying her trip was commissioned and as reported, procedurally approved by the minister.
“Her S&T at NTB was calculated in line with the NTB S&T policy and covered expenses for accommodation, meals and incidentals during the trip to three countries in Europe that had to be paid in foreign currency,” he said.
Akuenje received a cheque for N$35 111 from the NTB in 2010 as subsistence and traveling (S&T) allowances for the two-week trip to Europe to attend the World Travel Market Trade Fair.
After returning to Namibia, Akuenje allegedly also claimed S&T from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The Namibian is in possession of a government claim form for S&T allowances amounting to N$12 723. This amount was approved.
Last month, Akuenje described the close to N$50 000 in S&T payments for a 14-day trip as “nothing.”
The NTB also rubbished such claims saying that a board commissioned investigation found that there was nothing wrong with decisions taken by the CEO of the parastatal.
The Namibian also reported that //Naobeb has been accused by his staff members of favouritism, which they said has caused a lack of “industrial peace and harmony” in the organisation, and this began as far as 2011.
//Naobeb who is also being accused of dictatorship said labour issues that were stated in a staff petition were clarified and they are working with the union to reduce industrial conflicts.
Continuing defending his institution, //Naobeb also stood-by the board which was critisised by workers for failing to consult them in matters that affect them or the company.
He refuted claims that he influenced the board, adding that the body exercises objectivity in its governance functions and considers all matters with a critical mind.
Question marks were also placed on how the tender of building their head offices was issued, and again, //Naobeb pleaded innocence saying the tender was advertised.
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