The Swapo Party Youth League secretary for education, Hofni Iipinge, has advised the finance ministry to freeze the N$200 million funding for the procurement of 33 000 laptops for previously disadvantaged students because corruption may happen.
SPYL has claimed that it has been disgruntled by a last minute decision by the higher education ministry to grant the tender for procuring the laptops to one company instead of three as per the initial resolution.
“Therefore, SWAPO Party Youth League is calling on the Ministry of Finance not to release the funds to one company until the committee that was entrusted by the Ministry of High Education, Training and Innovation rectify all attempt of corruption they are trying to achieve through NSFAF,” said Iipinge.
He added, “Currently we learnt that the tender was given to one company only by the committee that was set up by the Ministry of High Education, Training and Innovation with the responsibilities to facilitate the purchasing of these student gadgets.
“The awarding of this tender to one company is against the resolution of the meeting taken by the attendees on the 18th April 2020 at the Ministry of High Education, Training and Innovation conference room.”
Speaking to Eagle FM on the Morning Scoop, Iipinge said it made no sense that these laptops, which were supposed to have been given the students by the beginning of August this year are still not available yet the ministry has shifted back to face to face learning.
