EU clears Nanso on misused funds

**Zebaldt Ngaruka **

Following its investigations into the allegations circulated regarding the alleged misuse of funds under Project SHINE by the Namibia National Students’ Organisation (Nanso), the European Union (EU) found no evidence of such.

Nanso was accused of misusing a sum of N$140 000, which was allocated for the EU-funded Sustainable Strategies in Higher Education Internationalisation Towards Excellence in Namibia (SHINE) project under the Erasmus+ programme.

Allegations were that the University of Namibia (Unam) paid the money directly into the Nanso bank account to organise a political congress.

The EU, through its ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins, announced that the European and Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) has concluded its investigation into the matter but found no proof of misused funds.

“Nanso is responsible for carrying out specific activities aligned with the SHINE Project’s objectives as an implementing partner. In this context, Nanso organised a dedicated plenary session on the project during its National Congress,” she said.

She added that EACEA considered the session relevant to the project’s objectives.

The ambassador highlighted that the expenses of N$8 100, directly related to the session’s organisation, was incurred under the SHINE grant.

“EACEA confirmed that this funding covered the dedicated project session and did not finance the National Congress itself,” she said.

Thus, Martins added that the EU takes all allegations concerning the potential misuse of its funds seriously and has robust financial monitoring, control and investigation procedures in place to ensure that funding is used appropriately, transparently and in line with contractual obligations.

She also said the EU welcomed information from whistleblowers and others who raise concerns about the use of EU funds.

“Such information supports accountability and is assessed through the appropriate procedures,” she said.

Furthermore, the EU ambassador to Namibia stated that the EU takes its responsibility as a development partner seriously.

“We have clear procedures to ensure that our funding is used for its intended purposes, with transparency and accountability at the centre of our work. The EACEA’s findings provide clarity on the use of the project funds,” she said.

Martins also emphasised that the EU remains committed to supporting education, youth participation and cooperation between higher education institutions in Namibia, with transparency and accountability guiding this support.

Funded through a grant under the Erasmus+ programme, the SHINE project is scheduled to run until December 2028.

“The implementation of the fund remains subject to applicable financial oversight and accountability requirements, including the possibility of audits by EACEA as the granting authority. We will continue with our support for the SHINE project, its objectives and its implementing partners,” said the EU ambassador to Namibia.

Lavinia Leonard, Nanso secretary general, said the organisation remains committed to transparency, accountability and institutional integrity.

She said they will continue to uphold these principles in serving Namibian students, trainees and learners.

“We wish to inform you that investigations into the matter have been concluded, and Nanso has been cleared by the European Union. The findings confirm that no project funds were misused or diverted towards activities outside the approved scope of SHINE,” she said.

Leonard clarified that the alleged funds to have been misused was not N$140 million as circulated by Affirmative Repositioning president Job Amupanda on social media.

It was only N$140 000.

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