President orders NCIS to screen 360 health officials

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to run background checks on about 360 health ministry officials following allegations of fraud and corruption. The officials are mostly from the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ pharmaceutical services directorate at the Central Medical Stores, which has been rocked with allegations that government employees colluded with Namibian tenderpreneurs to rig medical tenders and manipulate orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The president’s directive was conveyed by minister in the Presidency Charles Mubita to health minister Esperance Luvindao. The same message was later communicated to the Namibia Central Intelligence Service (NCIS) by executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi. In a letter dated 27 April, Mubita says the president has reviewed the staffing structure of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services and recommended broader vetting of personnel at key facilities. “The president reviewed the attached staff complement of the Directorate Pharmaceutical Services as at April 2026,” Mubita says in the letter. He adds that the president directed that screening should not be limited to selected posts – considering an ongoing investigation in the same sector. “Her excellency further advises the Ministry of Health and Social Services to submit a request, if not yet done, to the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to screen all the staff in the Directorate Pharmaceutical Services…,” Mubita says. The screening is set to cover staff in the Khomas region, as well as those at the subdivision multiregional medical depots at Oshakati and Rundu. Mubita says the directive follows a parliamentary announcement of an investigation into suspected fraud at Central Medical Stores, including allegations of “manipulated stock records and the diversion of medicines”, with implicated staff already being moved away from key functions pending investigation outcomes. Mubita also instructs the ministry to report back on the process. “Apprise her excellency on the outcome of the screening by NCIS,” he says. In a separate letter dated 27 May, Ithindi confirms that the ministry submitted 193 vetting forms for selected staff in November 2025. However, the NCIS later advised that vettable positions should be identified and Cabinet approval be obtained before starting the vetting process. Under Cabinet Decision No. 6th/10.03.26/008, adopted on 10 March, at least 363 key positions were designated for security vetting. The ministry was also instructed to agree on security classification levels with the NCIS before the process could begin. “In this regard, considering that the ministry has already submitted vetting forms for all staff members . . . the ministry hereby requests the NCIS to proceed with the screening of the aforementioned staff complement as advised by her excellency,” Ithindi says. The health ministry yesterday referred questions to the Office of the President. The vetting of staff comes as the health ministry pushes ahead with wider reforms in the pharmaceutical sector. As part of the restructuring, medicines registrar Fransina Nambahu was removed from her position last week and replaced by Frieda Shigwedha, effective 1 June, according to a report Namibian Sun published. Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo yesterday said the advice was prompted by reports of alleged irregularities in the pharmaceutical supply chain and the need to protect public resources. He said the move is also aimed at strengthening confidence in the management of essential medicines and ensuring that procurement, storage and distribution systems operate with integrity and accountability. “Given the critical importance of the health sector, it is prudent that any vulnerabilities which may compromise service delivery or public trust are identified and addressed,” he said. Mbambo rejected suggestions that the directive amounts to executive interference in administrative or governance processes. “The Presidency does not view this as inappropriate executive involvement in administrative processes. The health sector is a critical public service that directly affects the well-being and lives of Namibians,” he said. He said the government has a responsibility to act when concerns arise about systems responsible for the procurement, storage and distribution of medicines. “The advice to engage the Namibia Central Intelligence Service should therefore be understood as a preventative measure aimed at protecting the integrity of a critical public institution, strengthening public confidence, and ensuring that medicines and medical supplies reach those who need them,” he said. “The immediate objective is to assist in identifying any potential risks that may undermine the integrity, security and effective functioning of the directorate,” he said