IPC demands answers over four-year TransNamib fraud referral silence

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the government of failing to act on a four-year-old investigation into alleged fraud and theft at TransNamib, saying the continued silence undermines the fight against corruption.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, IPC says an independent Ernst & Young investigation completed in March 2022 found prima facie evidence of potential fraud and theft at the state-owned railway company.

According to the party, the report concluded that revenue owed to TransNamib had been misrepresented over several months and recommended that the matter be referred to both the police and the Namibia Revenue Agency.

It said the then minister of public enterprises forwarded the report to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on 29 March 2022, but no prosecution, recovery of funds or public explanation has followed.

“Who was responsible for failing to act on the referral? The prolonged inaction suggests officials deliberately allowed the matter to stall,” the party says.

The party claims during the period covered by the investigation, TransNamib fell more than N$23 million behind on employees’ pension, medical aid and social security contributions, leaving workers to bear the consequences while the alleged losses remained unrecovered.

IPC calls on minister of finance and public enterprises Ericah Shafudah to explain why the case has not progressed, identify officials responsible for handling the referral and confirm whether TransNamib employees have since received their outstanding benefits.

It also urges the incoming ACC director general to prioritise the case, saying corruption can only be defeated if investigations are followed by decisive action.

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