President orders intelligence screening for 360 health officials amid fraud allegations
via The Namibian5 min read
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed the Namibia Central Intelligence Service NCIS to conduct background checks on approximately 360 officials within the Ministry of Health and Social Services. This order follows allegations of fraud and corruption, particularly within the pharmaceutical services directorate at the Central Medical Stores. The allegations involve government employees colluding with tenderpreneurs to manipulate medical tenders and orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The President's directive was communicated by Minister in the Presidency Charles Mubita to Health Minister Esperance Luvindao, and subsequently to the NCIS by Executive Director of Health and Social Services Penda Ithindi. The screening is intended for staff in the Khomas region and at multiregional medical depots in Oshakati and Rundu. This action is a response to a parliamentary investigation into suspected fraud, including manipulated stock records and medicine diversion. Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo stated that the advice was prompted by reports of alleged irregularities in the pharmaceutical supply chain and aims to protect public resources, strengthen confidence in essential medicine management, and ensure integrity in procurement, storage, and distribution systems. Corporate governance analyst Ntelamo Ntelamo defended the President's intervention, viewing it as a necessary step to address serious issues and demonstrate leadership, despite raising questions about a
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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