Questions as first family graces COP28

State House insisted yesterday that President Hage Geingob and First Lady Monica Geingos personally paid for their children’s trip to COP28 in Dubai, but questions linger about the motive for including them on a trip where government seeks to tie down deals with foreign investors.

Information circulating in the public domain indicates that Geingob’s daughters Dangos and Nangula Geingos-Dukes, as well as First Lady Geingos' businessman son Nino Kalondo and daughter Kayla Elago, are on the trip.

Geingos’ brother Salomo Kalondo, himself a businessman, also forms part of the Namibian entourage to Dubai.

A child believed to be Geingob’s grandson, Jackson Dukes, also appears on the list.

The names appeared on an initial list, which was later trimmed.

It is not clear if all members of the first family on the initial list travelled.

“Not a single cent of public funds has been spent on the children of the first couple,” the presidency said in a statement yesterday.

Among other ventures, Geingos-Dukes is involved in the fishing industry as a shareholder in Tunacor, while Nino co-owns businesses in the diamond sector.

Transparency necessary

Political analyst Henning Melber said State House will have to properly explain how it chose the individuals who travelled to the COP28 conference and what the specific roles of those individuals were.

The list of travellers also includes government officials, businesspersons and officials working for various public enterprises.

Melber said the presidency should be as transparent as it can be regarding the list.

“Upon return from Dubai, State House ought to be transparent and accountable. Who attended, in which function, at which specific events, how long did they stay in Dubai, who paid from which funds for their travel expenses?" he said.

Melber questioned the large entourage, asking whether it was justified in the current financial climate.

“In a time of fiscal constraints, good governance requires justification of such expenses. Having said this, there is no doubt that a highly competent Namibian delegation ought to participate to negotiate the best for Namibian interests, especially when it comes to the strategic choices for hydro-energy and fossil fuel."

‘Raised eyebrows’

According to Melber, some names have led to more questions than answers.

“Some of the names do cause raised eyebrows for the mere fact that they are considered at all. Those listed include a ‘learner’ [Jackson Dukes] and a ‘student’ [Kayla Elago], two members of the first family, and two members of the Kalondo family, as well as several unspecified ‘misters’ and ‘misses’, lacking any further detail concerning their positions and jobs.”

Inclusion 'unacceptable'

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Inna Hengari lambasted the inclusion of children of the first couple on the trip.

“It is unacceptable for any government official, let alone the president, to travel with their entire family on a work trip while taxpayers shoulder the financial burden,” Hengari said.

She said: “Amidst Namibians grappling with generational poverty, unemployment and landlessness, we expect financial prudence and responsibility from the Office of the President. The oversized entourage raises concerns, irrespective of whether the costs fall on the private or public sector.”

Amid claims from State House that no tax money had been used, the PDM lawmaker said: “We will wait for the auditors' report. If there’s even a single misgiving, we will be ready to take them on."

Expenses privately covered

Presidential advisor Alfredo Hengari said there is nothing untoward with the first couple travelling with members of their family on official government trips, as long as these travels are not funded out of state coffers.

“President Geingob and Madame Geingos paid for the flights and accommodation expenses of their children. The presidency considers these allegations to be malicious and politically motivated, with the clear intent to detract from the excellent work President Geingob and the Namibian delegation have been carrying out at COP 28,” Hengari said.

Payment details seen by Namibian Sun indicate that Nino Kalondo’s trip is being funded by the “partner/sponsorship of the nominating entity."

Nangula’s participation in COP28 is shown as her being a collaborating organisation, while Dangos’ participation in COP28 is shown as a “paid relationship/contract with the nominating entity."

Own pocket

In October, Nino also travelled with Geingob to the United Nations General Assembly in the USA, as well as to the Energy Week Conference held in South Africa.

Speaking to Namibian Sun at the time, he defended his trip to the general assembly, saying he travelled at his own cost.

“I was given a limited public pass, available to members of the public who request same, for the sole purpose of watching the president deliver his speech.”