Henties Mayor fed up with politics

HENTIES Bay Mayor Paulus Tangeni Iimbambah says he is tired of politics and is no longer willing to serve as Mayor of the coastal town.

Iimbambah said this in an interview with The Namibian in the wake of allegations that he had misused the Anti-Corruption Commission to grind a personal axe with two town councillors. “I have had enough of politics.The people must look for someone else,” he told The Namibian.Republican Party President Henk Mudge called a press conference at Henties Bay last month, where he accused Iimbambah of pressing corruption charges against Councillors Lena //Hoëses (UDF) and Anna Hamutenya (Civics) because they had refused the mayor authorisation to use the Council’s official vehicle.The two councillors were arrested on June 4 because they allegedly failed to pay back a travel advance of N$1 772.According to //Hoëses and Hamutenya, they had an agreement to pay back the money in instalments and had made the final payment earlier on the day of their arrest.Mudge claimed that Iimbambah had ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to arrest the councillors for his own personal reasons.Iimbambah told The Namibian that he gave no such instructions and was not even in Henties Bay when the ACC investigated and arrested the two councillors.He said he was in the North to attend a meeting, adding that he had to hitch-hike there because he could not use an official vehicle.”Henk Mudge tarnished the name of Iimbambah, which does not just belong to me.It is a well-known name amongst the business people who live in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola,” Iimbambah said.”It was not me.I want my name to be cleared.”Mudge used this little press conference to tarnish my name in order to polish his own image.I respected him as a Member of Parliament, but now he comes all the way from Windhoek to host a conference without permission and tarnish my name, while I was not even present.Shame on him!” Iimbambah said.Asked about Mudge’s allegations that he had been involved in “drunken brawls and unbecoming behaviour”, Iimbambah said what he does after hours is nobody’s business.”I receive a salary of N$3 500.After tax, I get out N$1 800.That for being the Mayor of Henties Bay.I don’t have the money to go to parties, and my own wisdom will not take me down because I am responsible for this town and its people and its development,” he said.”Can I not have a little left over to entertain friends at my home with a braai? I don’t have as much money as Mudge to waste.He must not come play with me.””I have had enough of politics.The people must look for someone else,” he told The Namibian.Republican Party President Henk Mudge called a press conference at Henties Bay last month, where he accused Iimbambah of pressing corruption charges against Councillors Lena //Hoëses (UDF) and Anna Hamutenya (Civics) because they had refused the mayor authorisation to use the Council’s official vehicle.The two councillors were arrested on June 4 because they allegedly failed to pay back a travel advance of N$1 772.According to //Hoëses and Hamutenya, they had an agreement to pay back the money in instalments and had made the final payment earlier on the day of their arrest.Mudge claimed that Iimbambah had ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to arrest the councillors for his own personal reasons.Iimbambah told The Namibian that he gave no such instructions and was not even in Henties Bay when the ACC investigated and arrested the two councillors.He said he was in the North to attend a meeting, adding that he had to hitch-hike there because he could not use an official vehicle.”Henk Mudge tarnished the name of Iimbambah, which does not just belong to me.It is a well-known name amongst the business people who live in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola,” Iimbambah said.”It was not me.I want my name to be cleared.”Mudge used this little press conference to tarnish my name in order to polish his own image.I respected him as a Member of Parliament, but now he comes all the way from Windhoek to host a conference without permission and tarnish my name, while I was not even present.Shame on him!” Iimbambah said.Asked about Mudge’s allegations that he had been involved in “drunken brawls and unbecoming behaviour”, Iimbambah said what he does after hours is nobody’s business.”I receive a salary of N$3 500.After tax, I get out N$1 800.That for being the Mayor of Henties Bay.I don’t have the money to go to parties, and my own wisdom will not take me down because I am responsible for this town and its people and its development,” he said.”Can I not have a little left over to entertain friends at my home with a braai? I don’t have as much money as Mudge to waste.He must not come play with me.”