allAfrica.com: Namibia: ACC to Probe Regional Governor (Page 1 of 2)

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has received a letter detailing allegations of misappropriation of public funds at the Oshana Regional Council, ACC Deputy Director, Erna van der Merwe, confirmed in an interview yesterday.

In a letter dated June 24, 2008 copied to New Era and addressed to the ACC, a concerned member of the public accuses the Oshana Regional Council and suggests that council should seriously investigate the Oshana Regional Governor, Clemens Kashuupulwa, and its Chief Regional Officer, Johannes Kandombo, and other officials.

The allegations levelled against council range from the recruitment of a personal assistant and a driver to the Office of the Regional Governor, which, according to the letter, was done corruptly as no advertisement and interviews were ever done.

It also says though N$2000 was allegedly stolen from the council's coffers by an assistant accountant, strangely the case has not yet been reported to the police for investigation.

The letter states that the Governor's official car was involved in an accident at around midnight but the damage was not reported to the police and that after the incident, the Governor received a new car. Although in possession of a new car, the governor does not want to surrender the old car.

The letter further alleges that the governor is forcing the council to appoint a deputy director for human resources to the position of director of administration.

Another allegation forwarded to the ACC is that the regional council apparently spent over N$14 million on the Uukwangula Sports Complex.

Responding to the alleged corrupt practices at the council, Kashuupulwa told New Era that the Oshana Regional Council welcomes the ACC to carry out its national duty.

Kashuupulwa says the allegation that the recruitment of a personal assistant and a driver to the governor's office was done corruptly, is unfounded and groundless.

He said in terms of a memo issued on November 22, 2007 by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development that was sent to all regional councils, he was authorised and given carte blanche to fill the posts of personal assistant and driver in the office of the governor.

He said this letter came into force on December 1, 2007.

"The funding for these posts was provided for from our savings for the remaining period of the 2007/8 financial year because of the urgency of the matter. Regional councils were instructed that these posts are contractual posts and should be treated as such. This means that the recruitment of the personal assistant and driver to the governor, in terms of existing government policy, does not necessarily require that the posts be advertised, the same way that vacant posts of personal assistants and drivers to political office bearers are filled as such posts are entry posts and the incumbents are on contract at par with the contracts of the political office bearer," he explained.

He is adamant that the incumbents met the minimum requirements and were recruited in accordance with laid down procedures and they are linked to the contract of the governor. Approval was granted by the line ministry to commence with the recruitment of the two staff members and it was not necessary to place an advertisement, he said.

"This is the same standard used in recruiting personal assistants to other political office bearers who are equally on contracts," he said.

On the issue of the assistant accountant having allegedly stolen money from the council's coffers, Kashuupulwa noted that the regional council discovered the theft of N$2326.10 from the coffers of the council within its finance office.

The theft prompted the chief regional officer to appoint an internal committee in terms of the Public Service Act to investigate the matter and report back to him. The investigations, according to the governor, found prima facie evidence of a major offence of theft that warranted the charge of misconduct against the staff member.

"The matter was reported to the police in accordance with treasury instruction. The staff member has already paid back the full amount and the police advised the council to pursue the matter internally as the money had all been recovered. Early this year, the staff member was charged with misconduct and the council has forwarded the case to the Public Service Commission via our line ministry. We are still waiting for the recommendation of the Public Service Commission," stated Kashuupulwa.

With regard to the Government car and in particular to the allegation that the car allocated to the governor was bumped at midnight and its mega rims damaged, the governor denied the allegation saying that it is a figment of the aggrieved public member's imagination and the claim should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

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