Several relatively new members of the National Assembly (NA) have no assets to their names to declare, information contained in the 2021 asset register for members of parliament (MPs) reveals.
Those who own nothing include Landless People’s Movement (LPM) lawmaker Utaara Mootu, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)’s Inna Hengari, Winnie Moongo (PDM) and Swapo Party’s Emma Theofelus.
NA secretary Lydia Kandetu said when MPs declare nothing, it is either they genuinely own no assets or simply ignore and undermine the asset registration exercise.
This is exemplified by labour minister, Utoni Nujoma – a staunch critic of the asset registration exercise – who did not disclose his assets in the current register, however had declared a number of significant assets in the preceding year, including property in Japan.
Veteran parliamentarians such as Alexia Manombe-Ncube, Paula Kooper, Elma Dienda, Vipuakuje Muharukua and Elizabeth Becker all declared nothing.
“Our office has no enforcing power to compel MPs to declare their assets. Some of the MPs ignore this process, while it is required by law,” Kandetu said recently.
MPs are required to declare their shareholding and financial interest in companies, remunerative work outside of parliament, directorships, partnerships, sponsorships, gifts, discounts, property ownership, the value of their pensions, trusts and their spouses and children’s interests where the members benefit directly or indirectly.
RICH AND OLD
A closer analysis of the register depicts an image whereby the longer an MP has been in parliament, the more assets they would have accumulated.
For instance National Assembly Speaker, Peter Katjavivi is a wealthy man. The 80-year-old career politician owns 50 per cent of Katjavivi Properties Enterprises CC, which comprises one house in Windhoek.
Katjivivi, a member of the Constituent Assembly of 1989, also owns Aquarius 14 Investment CC which comprises one apartment in Windhoek. He owns 35 per cent of Monteleone 14 CC which comprises one apartment in the capital.
Other immovable properties owned by Katjavivi include a farm in the Okahandja area (50 per cent) and a Windhoek townhouse (50 per cent).
Veteran politician and Cabinet minister, Frans Kapofi serves as a director at Western National Insurance and Mbashe Fishing. Kapofi, who joined the public service at Independence as the then permanent secretary of the defence ministry, owns five immovable properties: a house in Windhoek’s Suiderhof suburb; erf 4 311 in Vineta, Swakopmund; flats No. 28 and 29 at Gladiola Court, Khomasdal and a plot in Ondangwa.
Works and Transport Minister John Mutorwa’s asset register seems rather modest, as he has three properties, all in Rundu.
BUSINESS MOGULS
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Epafras Mukwiilongo is a bona-fide businessman, with interests in real estate, supplying building materials, shebeen operations and property development.
He conducts his businesses through Mokasa Trading.
Mukwiilongo owns four business erven in Ongwediva, measuring a combined 4055 square metres. He also owns a business plot in Oshakati [2 200 square metres] and another in Oshikuku, measuring 3 000 square metres.
PDM’s Peter Mostert has a plethora of business ventures.
A familiar face in Kunene’s town of Outjo, Mostert owns 25 per cent of Outjo Retailers; 15 per cent Tre Supermarket; 15 per cent Kunene Catering and 50 per cent of Erongo Food Products.
Mostert owns two commercial farms, Farm No. 310 in Mariental district [48 000 hectares (ha)] and Farm No. 113 in the Outjo area measuring 2 800 ha.
His president, McHenry Venaani, is also an established businessman.
Venaani owns two farms, Farm Jurfan 340 measuring 4 000 ha and Farm Olitii 1 243, which has a 1 900 ha landmass. Venaani also owns a property in Otjituuo. He further owns 100 per cent of Otjohima Investment, which has an interest in property development and farming.
Venaani also received air tickets from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and hotel tickets from Democratic Union Africa, the register shows.
Swapo’s Fenni Nanyeni has a rich business portfolio. At present, Nanyeni is developing a mall in Eenhana, as well as shops in Omuntele, Okankolo and Omale.
She owns two houses and two barren erven, along with 1 000 shares in Sanlam, 600 in MTC and 10 000 in Letshego.
KAWANA’S BOOZE
“[I] occasionally receive bottles of e.g. wine, tea [and] at one time, a crate of Windhoek Lager from Namibia Breweries. The value is extremely insignificant.”
This is Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Albert Kawana’s testimony about the perks he receives beyond his Cabinet job.
Kawana also owns houses in Katima Mulilo, Windhoek and a village house in his native Zambezi Region. The lawyer-and-politician also owns a plot measuring 2 000 square metres at Epalela in the Omusati Region.
Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula has an interest in diamond polishing through his 10 per cent stake in Ankit Gem Namibia, owns 100 per cent of Iipati Health Consulting and serves as a director at the Hifikepunye Pohamba Foundation, “providing bursaries to needy students from disadvantaged” communities.
Shangula owns a house in Windhoek, another at Eitilyasa village and three plots in Okahao in the Omusati Region, where he intends to build a medical centre in the near future.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
