Namibia: Health Ministry 'Illegally' Pays Suppliers N$13m
[Namibian] Auditor general Junias Kandjeke has exposed widespread financial irregularities and the unauthorised spending of over N$13 million at the health ministry through improper emergency procurement.
The auditor general of Namibia, Junias Kandjeke, has revealed significant financial irregularities within the Ministry of Health and Social Services. In his audit report on the ministry's accounts for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, Kandjeke uncovered the illegal payment of approximately N$13.2 million to suppliers through the misuse of emergency procurement processes.
Despite outlining items in its annual procurement plan, the ministry bypassed standard tender procedures to acquire goods and services totaling N$13,221,043.97 via emergency procurement, even when these goods and services did not meet the required criteria for such a method. Additionally, the report details N$377,313 in illegal retrospective payments made to suppliers without proper authorisation.
The auditor general also noted the payment of N$245,844 for an invoice from the 2023/24 financial year during the 2024/25 financial year without the necessary treasury authorisation. Furthermore, the ministry exceeded several budgetary subdivisions by a combined total of N$56,954, including four operational and one developmental subdivision overruns.
Detailed discrepancies also include a negative miscellaneous revenue balance of N$27.6 million, unexplained overtime payments to staff members on full-time study leave, and outstanding commitments totaling N$36.7 million not processed before year-end. Despite leaving N$352.7 million (3.11%) of its total budget unspent, the audit suggests this amount could have been allocated to other national priorities.
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