Catherine Sasman
3 November 2008
Windhoek — After more than two months of "special leave" on charges of alleged irregularities, TransNamib Chief Executive Officer, Titus Haimbili, was on Friday informed of the charges against him.
He was charged with misconduct and was suspended.
According to a letter by Acting Chairperson of the TransNamib board, Sara Naanda, Haimbili was requested to furnish the board, or Naanda, with a "written admission or denial" of the charges if he "so desires" with a written explanation of the conduct with which he is charged.
Should Haimbili fail to come up with the written admission or denial within 14 days, wrote Naanda, a disciplinary committee will be appointed "which shall inquire into the charges of misconduct" against him.
He is on full pay suspension, and is expected to avail himself to the board at all times, and was further instructed by the board to inform it should he wish to travel out of Windhoek.
The three-member board - Naanda, Ludwig Narib and Chris Nghaamwa - arrived at this decision since the board chairperson, Festus Lameck, was recused from the Haimbili matter.
Braam Cilliers has in the meantime resigned from the board.
The main charge against Haimbili is that he reportedly "irregularly and improperly" appointed Albert !Naruseb, the general manager of human resources.
Haimbili stands accused that he had a telephonic discussion with !Naruseb before the interview, and that he had not declared his relationship with !Naruseb. It is alleged that !Naruseb is a brother to Haimbili's Damara-speaking wife and that he (Haimbili) had therefore not recused himself from the interview.
The board stated that Haimbili had abused his authority by favouring !Naruseb before or during the interview process.
He is further accused of having acted in contravention of the company's credit card policy, by failing to "appropriately explain some of the expenses incurred" by him between February and July, that he has allegedly failed to provide details "of the individuals entertained, as well as the reason for the entertainment as required" on a credit card expense claim on July 8, and that he has allegedly ordered the increase or change of the credit card limits for all staff, including himself, without the board's approval.
He is also accused of ordering an increase of Matty Hauwanga's credit card limit contrary to TransNamib's credit card policy.
A third charge is that Haimbili between April and May "committed fraud" against TransNamib.
In the charge, it is claimed that Haimbili invoiced Trans- Namib an amount of N$19682 for a flight for himself and his wife to Botswana "under the assumption that the travel was for official purposes".
Haimbili had requested that his wife's flight costs be deducted from his salary after TransNamib paid these, and he reportedly claimed S&T to the value of N$1240, as well as accommodation costs.
He allegedly obtained these amounts in advance prior to the trip "under the pretext that the trip was for official purposes".
Another charge is that Haimbili ordered an increase on his credit limit contrary to TransNamib policies between February and August.
The board charged that Haimbili had not been authorised to increase his airtime limits.
Haimbili further stands accused of acting outside the scope of his authority and his employment contract when he implemented an interest-free study loan policy without submitting the policy to the board for approval.
He is also charged for not seeking approval from the board for a study loan of 4240 pounds.
The sixth charge against him is that he has abused his position "to secure a favourable rental agreement" for a TransNamib house he now occupies while his own house is being renovated.
It is stated that he forced a TransNamib employee, the then acting Manager of Marketing Paul Nahitati, to compile a rental contract for an amount less than the market-related rental rate, and that he threatened this employee with disciplinary action when Nashitati wanted to renegotiate the rental amount.
"What was the reason for the two months within which TransNamib had these charges investigated?" asked Haimbili on Friday after he received the charge sheet from the legal secretary of the board. "Most of these charges appear to have been reported in the media already as early as September."
However, he noted that he is "happy" that the allegations against him have finally been confirmed.
"If there is a disciplinary hearing, then the truth behind everything will come out. I am looking forward to this challenge; I will defend my rights without retreat," he added.
The independent investigation of the charges against Haimbili was conducted by Ernst&Young at a cost of N$200000.
It is not clear how the disciplinary hearing will be constituted.
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