Some Financial institution of Namibia (BoN) board members are allegedly pushing central financial institution governor Johannes !Gawaxab to cancel a choice to hand-pick an Indian firm to develop Namibia’s digital monetary system – price N$82 million.
The governor’s spokesperson, nevertheless, says there’s nothing improper concerning the venture.
The system is seen by some insiders as a progressive venture geared toward making digital banking accessible to folks at casual and rural communities.
Nevertheless, a bit of !Gawaxab’s administration is questioning the tender course of which favoured an Indian state-owned firm referred to as Nationwide Funds Company of India (NPCI) Worldwide Fee Restricted.
The central financial institution wished the corporate to create an digital system, often called the Unified Fee Interface platform, for N$82 million in 5 years.
This contains an preliminary licensing price of US$2,5 million (N$44,7 million) and yearly subscription charges of US$250 000 (N$4,4 million), plus venture implementation prices.
The BoN must renegotiate the subscription charges after 5 years if it needs to proceed utilizing the platform.
The central financial institution reportedly did not observe process earlier than pushing for the Indian firm.
Sources aware of this matter say !Gawaxab is going through criticism from members of his govt staff and the BoN’s board for not following the principles.
Two sources informed The Namibian that some board members referred to as for the tender course of to be cancelled and are pushing for a brand new clear course of in keeping with the BoN’s guidelines.
Some additionally referred to as for the Indian state-owned agency to be disqualified from the brand new course of.
One other central financial institution board director allegedly urged cancelling the tender throughout a gathering final week.
BoN spokesperson Kazembire Zemburuka yesterday stated there was nothing untoward concerning the venture, including {that a} tender course of in keeping with the central financial institution’s guidelines was underway.
Purple flags have been raised concerning the method by which !Gawaxab has allegedly pushed for the deal.
The Namibian has been informed {that a} choice was made and the banks’s govt administration and the tender committee have been requested to rubber-stamp the choice.
No public name for an expression of curiosity was made. Sources additionally stated a venture of that nature and value doesn’t qualify for tender exemptions.
!Gawaxab and a small staff he chosen to champion the venture allegedly made the choice.
Zemburuka in his emailed response stated there was a consultative course of, which concluded that entry to important and inexpensive monetary providers stays low in rural areas and the casual sector.
The Financial institution of Namibia, via its 2022 to 2024 strategic plan, noticed the necessity to tackle monetary inclusion via regulatory intervention.
The financial institution then explored native and worldwide options for the creation of inexpensive, interoperable, quick, and cost-efficient cost providers within the financial system.
Indian outfit NCPI was then invited to a workshop with native nationwide cost system individuals, hosted by the BoN.
The goal of the workshop was to reinforce the understanding of the home key stakeholders so far as the moment cost platform and interoperability is worried.
“There was no situation hooked up,” Zemburuka stated.
“It has come to the stage the place it’s now busy with a typical procurement process as outlined within the financial institution’s inside insurance policies, which requires approval from varied constructions, together with the board of administrators of the financial institution and the minister of finance, the place related,” the spokesperson stated.
He stated the procurement course of will embody invites of expression of curiosity from home, regional and worldwide distributors, amongst others.
Zemburuka stated all governance processes can be adopted, and related constructions, together with the federal government, can be consulted for approval the place relevant.
Zemburuka may, nevertheless, not clarify why the central financial institution was in contract talks with NPCI.
Based on sources, the financial institution’s venture staff is coping with NPCI solely.
The Namibian has additionally been knowledgeable that the BoN chosen three worldwide entities and invited them to make displays on the potential for creating and implementing a cost system for Namibia.
The standards used for figuring out them usually are not identified.
The BoN has declined to supply The Namibian with the standards used to pick out the Indian firm or the names of the opposite two entities.
The venture staff, allegedly chosen by !Gawaxab, chosen NPCI, which prices N$82 million to implement and run the system for 5 years.
Different questions raised concerning the venture contain the potential for the central financial institution creating one other parastatal to run the system, and whether or not a examine has been carried out on the viability of making such an entity.
The BoN final week additionally made headlines for making use of stress on the Enterprise and Mental Property Authority to implement an N$82-million programme with out following process.
The stated initiative is in keeping with worldwide necessities for Namibia to battle cash laundering.
It goals to make enterprise and firm possession data extra accessible to the general public.
It seems that Bipa is delayed with the deadline set and will danger the nation being greylisted as a money-laundering vacation spot.
Supply: namibian
