By Eliaser Ndeyanale
MINISTER of Safety and Security Charles Namoloh has accused the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) of being discriminatory questioning why it did not grant bursaries to children of high government officials like ministers and ambassadors.
He made the remarks in the National Assembly on Thursday last week while contributing to the budget debate of the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation.
“Our children are discriminated against, they can’t get bursaries. Why if you are a minister or ambassador your child won’t get a bursary?” he asked High Education Minister Dr Itah Kandjii- Murangi.
Namoloh further told the Assembly how he paid for his five children university fees. “I have five children but none of them got a loan to study at a university. Who are these bursaries meant for because our children are always told your father is an ambassador or a minister (sic). Why can they not be given bursaries?”
Kandjii-Murangi shut him down however saying the system was meant to be pro poor in order to assist the country’s less privileged.
“We are reviewing the NSFAF requirements so that every eligible Namibia who meets certain requirements can get a bursary, but we want it (bursary scheme) to become pro poor,” she said.
Contrary to Namoloh’s latest declarations, back in 2009 Informante reported how children of government elite including Namoloh’s children had benefitted from bursaries to study in China. Those who had benefited included former President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s daughter, Ndapanda, Namoloh’s son Justus, Ernesto Ndeitunga, son of Namibian Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga, and Phillip Esau, son of Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Bernhard Esau.
Other notable recipients include Lenna ya Kasita, Minister Henock ya Kasita’s daughter, Naukalemo Nghimtina, Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina’s daughter, and Patrick Lungameni Mushimba, who is said to be related to former First Lady Kovambo Nujoma. The newspaper also reported then that Home Affairs Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana’s daughter, Pendukeni, and Nathanael Pashto Nghidinwa, son of the former Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Rosalia Nghidinwa, also benefited.