Telecom Namibia said on Monday it has launched a dedicated whistleblowing hotline that enables anyone – including its own employees – to report any fraudulent and corrupt activities being committed within Telecom Namibia’s organisation.
The “Jiva Tip-Off Hotline” will be available 24/7 and serve as a confidential and secure channel for employees, stakeholders and members of the public to report any misconduct, violations of company policies or unethical practices (such as fraud, corruption and bribery) that they may encounter in their dealings with Telecom Namibia.
Telecom Namibia added that the hotline – which supports multiple languages – will be managed by Deloitte, who will serve as an independent third-party consultant to ensure confidentiality and impartiality. People who call the hotline can choose to remain anonymous, and will be protected from retaliation, the telco said.
The telco also promised that all reports will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate actions will be taken to address any issues uncovered.
Telecom Namibia said the hotline is meant to foster transparency, ethical conduct, and accountability across all levels of the organization.
“The whistleblowing hotline is part of a broader effort by Telecom Namibia in reinforcing our commitment to ethical practices and compliance with regulatory standards,” the telco said in a release. “By providing a safe space for reporting misconduct, we aim to not only protect our organization but also empower our employees, stakeholders and public to uphold the values we stand for.”
The whistleblowing hotline comes six years after several senior Telecom Namibia executives, including CEO Theo Klein, were suspended in 2018 over a scandal involving an allegedly fake NAB12 million (US$684,000) tender between the telco and printing firm Canocopy.
