The allowances were suspended in November 2006, but the council decided to reintroduce them in June this year.

On top of that, it decided that councillors should receive the allowances retroactively for the previous financial year.

Barely a month later, Local Government Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga ordered the councillors to pay back the money.

According to a new ministerial directive, from September 1 only the chairman of the council, his deputy and the management committee chairman would be entitled to cellphone allowances, Council's acting Chief Executive, Bertie Reyneke, said.

The chairman will receive N$500 a month, his deputy N$250 and the management committee chairman N$375.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  SPYL saves struggle children from arrest
•  RDP slams Nujoma about troops to DRC
•  Cocaine-dealing suspect acquitted
•  Tired of 'empty promises'
•  Hospital plagued by power problem
•  Mix Camp Settlement gets drought aid
•  Mix Camp Settlement gets drought aid
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Quirky SMSes
•  Diamond jobs under threat
•  Fisherman jailed over Henties Bay stabbing
•  Swapo 'behind Pohamba all the way'
•  Fatal kicking case to Regional Court
•  MVA sues paralysed accident victim
•  Koevoet bases to be renovated
•  Campsites bring hope to Puros
•  'Koos Kombuis' in Walvis cell
•  Ulenga leaves Parliament to prepare CoD for elections
•  Chief /Gaseb does not acknowledge appointment by King Justus //Garoeb
•  German museum to return skulls
•  Big Brother Africa 3: E-mails - From You To Us
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Is Malawi going to clean up?
•  Court cracks down on 'struggle children'
•  Nearly a third of Namibians poor
•  Pupils suspended over porn DVD
•  NA approves US grant