Kavekotora calls for ‘sinking’ NHE probe
Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) leader Mike Kavekotora has termed the construction of only 600 houses by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) in the last five years a colossal failure.
Kavekotora, who led NHE between 2000 and 2005, wants its relevance reviewed, and said: “Those driving the parastatal into the ground must be held accountable”.
He made these remarks in the National Assembly last week while submitting why the entity must be investigated by a parliamentary committee.
“The target of building 1 250 houses annually was not achieved; instead, only 600 houses were constructed for the entire period of five years. NHE is currently kept afloat by income generated from the Mass Housing project,” Kavekotora remarked to the august house.
According to him, NHE must undergo a performance audit to determine its ability to attain its main objective, which is to provide and finance affordable housing to the lower segment of the housing pyramid.
Earlier this year, NHE suspended four managers after they asked urban development minister Erastus Uutoni to investigate the management of the company.
They are Ntelamo Ntelamo, Eric Libongani, Chris Baisako and Beverly Vugs.
According to the managers, CEO Gisbertus Mukulu is “grossly
incompetent, lacking the necessary strategic and operational experience to run the institution.
“The CEO lacks the necessary leadership skills to articulate and promote a modern and robust vision for the NHE,” their petition read.
Kavekotora agrees with this assertion.
“I am informed that the public enterprise minister (Leon Jooste) made a public statement, saying that his ministry is looking into issues raised against the NHE CEO, who is alleged to be incompetent and being responsible for the parastatal financial woes,” he continued.
“There was no growth in the loan book during Mukulu’s term. Under Mukulu’s leadership, no audited financial statements were produced – contrary to the provision of the
establishing Act,” Kavekotora vented.
However, NHE board chairman Sam Shivute has defended Mukulu, saying he recorded significant achievements under a “difficult financial environment”.
“In the absence of quantitative and qualitative information supported by a performance management system by the statement by Sam Shivute is meaningless [sic]. The situation at NHE is rather disturbing and one really wonders whether the reappointment of Mukulu was justifiable,” rebuffed Kavekotora.
He added: “The basis of the above warrants a committee of parliament to investigate these allegations by senior management in an attempt to rescue this institution from total collapse.”