Accusations of fraud fly at Ondangwa

ALLEGATIONS are being levelled left, right and centre as former Ondangwa Mayor Priskila Kauna Nashandi and the current Mayor, Naftali Andimba, cross swords.

Andimba has accused Nashandi of illegally registering last year’s Ondangwa Trade Fair in her name and for her personal benefit. Nashandi has denied the allegations.At a press conference at the Ondangwa Town Council chambers last week, Andimba said after the fair rumours started circulating that the fair was registered in the name of an individual and that the name of the Ondangwa Town Council appeared nowhere in official documents.Andimba said the Council had investigated these rumours.According to him, ”It came to light that what we in the council were hearing was true and that one individual who happens to be a member of this council has turned what was supposed to be the council’s benefits into her own private benefits.”Nashandi is now an ordinary member of the Ondangwa Town Council after she lost the mayoral chain to Andimba earlier this year.Nashandi allegedly confirmed her acts in a letter she wrote to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Town Council, Paulus Ndjodhi.In this letter, claimed Andimba, Nashandi confirmed that the trade fair was indeed a private business.”She was inviting Ondangwa Town Council to apply and become part of her trade fair,” he said.”The Council’s name has been used, its resources, machinery, finances, stationery, offices and its human resources, through what I can term has been false pretences,” alleged Andimba.He said the Council would do everything in its power to make sure that projects such as the trade fair benefited residents and the council.The Council had therefore decided that the next Ondangwa Trade Fair will be organised by the Council and spearheaded by its CEO.A planning committee will soon be set up, the Mayor said.It was also resolved that there would be no Ondangwa Trade Fair this year and anybody else wanting to host such an event in Ondangwa should first get approval from the Council.In a letter dated June 26 2007, CEO Ndjodhi demanded N$225 642 from Nashandi.This includes an amount of N$187 597 for instructing Council employees to work at the fair instead of doing their normal duties.The Council also claimed that it bought equipment for the trade fair at a cost of N$38 044.Nashandi was given until July 6 to settle these claims.Approached for comment yesterday, Nashandi said the Ondangwa Town Council was telling lies.”I did not get a cent from this trade fair,” Nashandi told The Namibian.She said Andimba just wanted to tarnish her name.She said a number of business people had joined the Ondangwa Town Council in organising the fair and she could not understand why Andimba should say the fair was her personal business.”I was just there representing the council like other people from the council.Why should I pay the council? If they want my wealth, they should not look for it this way,” she said.Nashandi called on Andimba to focus on his duties as Mayor – coming up with plans and projects aimed at developing the town.She did not attend Wednesday’s press conferenceNashandi has denied the allegations.At a press conference at the Ondangwa Town Council chambers last week, Andimba said after the fair rumours started circulating that the fair was registered in the name of an individual and that the name of the Ondangwa Town Council appeared nowhere in official documents.Andimba said the Council had investigated these rumours.According to him, ”It came to light that what we in the council were hearing was true and that one individual who happens to be a member of this council has turned what was supposed to be the council’s benefits into her own private benefits.”Nashandi is now an ordinary member of the Ondangwa Town Council after she lost the mayoral chain to Andimba earlier this year.Nashandi allegedly confirmed her acts in a letter she wrote to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Town Council, Paulus Ndjodhi.In this letter, claimed Andimba, Nashandi confirmed that the trade fair was indeed a private business.”She was inviting Ondangwa Town Council to apply and become part of her trade fair,” he said.”The Council’s name has been used, its resources, machinery, finances, stationery, offices and its human resources, through what I can term has been false pretences,” alleged Andimba.He said the Council would do everything in its power to make sure that projects such as the trade fair benefited residents and the council.The Council had therefore decided that the next Ondangwa Trade Fair will be organised by the Council and spearheaded by its CEO.A planning committee will soon be set up, the Mayor said.It was also resolved that there would be no Ondangwa Trade Fair this year and anybody else wanting to host such an event in Ondangwa should first get approval from the Council.In a letter dated June 26 2007, CEO Ndjodhi demanded N$225 642 from Nashandi.This includes an amount of N$187 597 for instructing Council employees to work at the fair instead of doing their normal duties.The Council also claimed that it bought equipment for the trade fair at a cost of N$38 044.Nashandi was given until July 6 to settle these claims.Approached for comment yesterday, Nashandi said the Ondangwa Town Council was telling lies.”I did not get a cent from this trade fair,” Nashandi told The Namibian.She said Andimba just wanted to tarnish her name.She said a number of business people had joined the Ondangwa Town Council in organising the fair and she could not understand why Andimba should say the fair was her personal business.”I was just there representing the council like other people from the council.Why should I pay the council? If they want my wealth, they should not look for it this way,” she said.Nashandi called on Andimba to focus on his duties as Mayor – coming up with plans and projects aimed at developing the town.She did not attend Wednesday’s press conference