WINDHOEK â€" In a move that has sent shockwaves among the local sports fraternity, the Namibia Basketball Federation (NBF) has taken the lead to rid the sport of corruption.

At the centre of the storm is the NBF development officer, who also doubles up as director of Vision of the Youth Namibia, one Manuel Carballo, who is now the subject of an investigation.

NBF has launched a fraud and corruption investigation with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Carballo for apparently fraudulently using the name of the NBF to solicit funds from unsuspecting parties (sponsors).

 "The NBF has it on good record that Vision of the Youth Namibia is fraudulently soliciting funds from unsuspecting parties using the good name of the NBF," reads a statement by the NBF.

The damning allegations are based on the following facts, which have also been outlined in the submission to the ACC.

 1) That Mr Carballo is a director of Vision of the Youth Namibia and as such used his position as the development officer of the NBF to ensure that it (Vision of the Youth Namibia) received affiliation status to the NBF as well as the mandate to organize a FIBA international basketball event.

 2) That as a result of the above point, Vision of the Youth Namibia has approached various stakeholders to seek funds from them

3) That an amount of N$90 500 earmarked for the recently held basketball coaches development workshop (31 October ñ 07 November) from the ministry of youth and sport was disbursed/spent without any cent being deposited or passed through the NBF bank account at Nedbank Namibia

The NBF thus as a result of the above investigation has resolved to suspend Carballo with immediate effect from all NBF activities until the above points are cleared by the ACC or the relevant investigation authorities.

The NBF also issued a stern warning to those stakeholders that have already committed financial or material resources to Vision of the Youth and/or NBF, to do so at their own risk and should not hold the NBF responsible for any loss that may occur.  The recently announced FIBA 3 on 3 International Basketball Tournament is also cancelled until further notice.

ìWe cannot allow funds that were sought through fraudulent means to circulate into the basketball system. It might also be compared to blood diamonds,î reads the statement from the NBF.