…As Nekundi hits back
By Stefanus Nashama
Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi said neither he nor ministry officials have received a business plan from Fly Etosha Airways concerning its proposed partnership with Namibia Air.
This comes after Fly Etosha Airways manager William Ekandjo claimed that the new national airline’s technical team stole ideas from his business plan submitted for evaluation.
However, Nekundi dismissed the claims, indicating that he has no business with Ekandjo.
Ekandjo said he and representatives from other airline companies interested in a public partnership with Namibia Air were requested to provide business plans.
“When we were requested to provide our business plans to the ministry during the interview, we were sceptical because from experience we knew that certain departments in the ministry do not have provision for confidentiality agreements or so. It is a matter of take it or leave it,” said Ekandjo added.
He accused the minister of hiding something about the technical team dealing with the establishment of the new national airline, claiming that the technical team is either weak or does not exist at all.
“It is clear that Nekundi is hiding something. It could be that he feels that the technical team is weak or the team does not exist at all. So far we only know about one or two people consisting of the head who is most probably the executive director.”
Ekandjo further questioned whether the technical committee has people with specific airline qualifications or successful airline management experience, citing the possibility of corruption in appointing such members.
“We do not understand why the minister is concealing members of such a team. We also know that people with absolute knowledge and fit for this purpose are roaming the streets or ploughing mahangu fields somewhere in the countryside. Would not you call that corruption?”
In response, Nekundi clarified that he has nothing to hide about the technical committee, except strategic information that he could not reveal due to marketing competition.
“Unless he gave me the business plan in a dream,” Nekundi said.
He also indicated that the names of the seven members who form part of the technical committee have been in the public domain since last year.
These include Namibia Air interim board chairperson Jonas Sheelongo, interim chief executive officer Xavier Masule, Ndapewa Hangula, Toska Sem, Nokokure Katjiuongua and two other members.
He said all technical committee members have experience in aviation.
“What issue is Mr Ekandjo trying to bring up? Unless he wanted to be part of the technical team,” he said.
Namibia Air is moving closer to operations after receiving its non-scheduled and scheduled air transport services licences this week, valid for five years from August 6.
