HARDAP Regional Council chairperson Eduard Wambo has cost the council close to N$300 000 in car rental fees in less than a year, sources said.
Council sources allege that although Wambo was allocated a brand new Toyota double-cab bakkie as an official vehicle in December 2015, he continued renting pool vehicles from the government garage in 2016.
The sources added that what council has paid so far in car rental bills for Wambo could have been used to buy a brandnew vehicle.
According to sources, on top of the rental bills, Wambo has also requested that his official vehicle be fitted with accessories costing close to N$100 000.
Regional council chairpersons are allowed to hire vehicles at council’s cost from the government garage when their official vehicle breaks down.
Sources alleged that he was renting vehicles to keep the mileage of his official vehicle low because he intends to buy it when his term ends.
He has admitted renting government cars since March last year, saying his official vehicle has continuous wheel alignment and headlight problems, but refuted allegations of excessively hiring vehicles from the government garage last year.
“It is not like I have been driving with hired vehicles since March. I have only hired these vehicles when my official vehicle gave mechanical problems,” said he.
He also refuted claims that the regional council forked out close to N$300 000 in car rental fees accumulated by him.
“No, that amount is definitely much less. Someone is exaggerating,” he stated.
According to sources, towards the end of January, Wambo had tried to rent a government BMW to attend a funeral at Upington, South Africa.
The Namibian has seen a request letter, dated 26 January 2017, in which he sought approval to travel the next day with the said vehicle out of the country. No mention was made in the letter of whose funeral he was going to attend at Upington.
Questions have also been raised as to whether the request had the appropriate endorsements, given that Hardap acting chief regional officer Theresia Basson only sought approval from the works and transport ministry’s permanent secretary the day before he was supposed to travel to Upington.
Wambo has confirmed seeking to rent a government BMW to go to Upington to attend a funeral of a family member, but said he later cancelled the trip.
In his defence, he argued that he was entitled to his official vehicle or any government-owned replacement vehicle for private business because he did not get a vehicle allowance, nor could he claim for travel allowances like other councillors.
In addition, he said he paid a special tax of 1,5%, calculated on his official vehicle’s cost, which also entitled him to use the vehicle or any other replacement government vehicle for his private business.
He explained that he paid the special tax because he will be given the option to buy his official vehicle when his term ends.
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