Gibeon councillor rejects drought relief food

Gibeon constituency councillor Paul Isaak has been accused of rejecting over 300 maize meal bags, and 300 cooking oil bottles intended as drought relief food for Gibeon communities.

The food was sent last month by Hardap governor Riaan McNab’s office to the constituency council, but the consignment was met with rejection.

McNab confirmed this to The Namibian on Wednesday, saying the reasons for the rejection were not given when he sought clarity.

“My office sent the consignment to Gibeon constituency council’s office a month ago, but the councillor was not there at the time. However, the administration staff told me that they were instructed by the councillor not to accept it and that we should find another place to store it.”
The food was eventually stored at a school, he said.

“People are trying to turn it into a political thing but at whose expense, only the community will be left to suffer,” McNab added.

He appointed a committee of community members to ensure the food is distributed to the right recipients and this was successfully done, he said.

The governor added that while the original number of maize meal bags was accounted for, six cooking oil bottles were missing from the consigment of 300.

McNab said he replaced them with a new batch of cooking oil bottles.

“Although I am from Swapo, a governor of Hardap region, the drought food is distributed equally to all constituencies.

People must put their differences aside and put the plight of the community above self interests,” he said.
Isaak denied the accusation.

He shifted blame to a staff member who allegedly never informed him.

“I was away on oversight consultations with the National Council parliamentary standing committee.

The person is from the Landless People’s Movement, and is also contesting for the upcoming regional council elections,” he said.

Former local authority councillor at the Gibeon Village Council Anna Garoes told The Namibian that drought relief food meant for all residents is only given to Swapo members, and those who do not have membership cards are left out.

She claims former Gibeon regional councillor Jeremiah van Neel allegedly used his bakkie to collect drought food at the constituency office, took it to the Swapo office and distributed it to his party members.

She calls for action, describing the situation as broad daylight corruption.

Van Neel, who is contesting for councillor in the upcoming regional council and local authority elections, refuted these allegations describing them as false.

“I was no where near the council office even, but go ask them if Van Neel was there.

It’s a lie and you must know it’s election time so people will say anything to make people look bad,” he says.

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