In an attempt to distance itself from stories linking it to the funding of the Independent Patriotic for Change (IPC) political party, the International University of Management (IUM) released a statement which was published in a local daily newspaper.
The statement, published on 30 April 2024 as an “advertorial,” meaning that it was paid for as an advertisement, was titled “IUM Response to the recent media reports implicating it in funding the promotion of political object”.
Without mentioning what this “political object” is, the statement, signed by Professor Osmund D Mwandemele, the IUM’s Vice Chancellor, stated that the IUM Governing Council held a special urgent meeting on 23 April 2024 “to consider an Investigation Report by Management on media reports implying that IUM resources were used to fund the promotion of a political object.
“It is in view of the above that the IUM Governing Council took the media reports in a very serious light and directed IUM Management to provide a full report on what actually transpired.”
Without giving the details of what the media reports said, Prof. Mwandemele just stated in the advertorial that “having heard and considered the IUM Management Report, the Governing Council endorsed the position that management has taken. Council also expressed satisfaction with the manner in which management handled the matter in response to the media queries.”
The advertorial statement further just stated that, “In this regard, Council reiterated that the International University of Management is registered as an organization ‘not for gain’ under Section 21 of the Companies Act, of which its operational mandate is derived from its Founding Charter, the Higher Education Act and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) as well as the Namibia Qualification Authority (NQA).”
Professor Mwandemele further said: “Commenting on the media reports, IUM Council stated that it upholds and appreciates the important role of the media in correctly informing and educating members of the public and the nation at large within the context of national development.
“It is in this regard that Council provides this statement to put the matter into perspective, as well as to reassure the public that IUM is and remains an apolitical institution which is not in support of any Politcal Party, nor will it ever involve itself in political sponsorship or affiliation.”
However, it was in an article titled “IPC won’t disclose its funders – Itula” published in The Namibian newspaper of 12 April 2024 where it was reported that Mr Wilfred Muller, who is a financial manager at IUM, said that some of the more than 100 GWM vehicles which are being used by IPC in its campaigns belong to him.
In the same article it was said that Mr Muller’s company, Rover Trading Enterprises, which he said owns the vehicles that are loaned out to IPC, opened a bank account with a local bank on 4 December 2023. The next day N$1,4 million was paid into this account from IUM.
“Part of this money then flowed to Shikamo Political Advisory and Campaign Services, a political consulting firm with ties to Muller,” the article said.
The article further reported that Rover Trading Enterprises in December 2023 made “significant payments to GWM, the supplier of the vehicles, with additional funds said to be originating directly from IUM.
“This pattern continued throughout December and January 2024, with IUM allegedly ultimately paying Rover Trading Enterprises a total of N$10,5 million, most of which was then paid to GWM.”
In the photo: A GWM vehicle, for illustration purposes.
