Investigation into rotten food drags on

THE team investigating why more than 6 000 kg of maize meal destined for the food-for-work programme in the Karas Region was left to rot has asked for an extension.

The Karas Regional Council’s Director of Planning, Ben Rukambe, yesterday said the probe was expected to be finalised by the end of this month. It was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of last month.The 500 bags of spoilt maize meal were buried in hush-hush fashion seven kilometres outside Keetmanshoop on the Aroab road at the end of February.The bags were discovered in a warehouse when Food Secretariat officials visited the region in November to assess the programme.Sources within the Regional Council said the maize meal, along with canned fish and cooking oil destined for the food-for-work programme, was delivered in 2000.Health officials declared the canned fish and cooking oil fit for human consumption and it has been transferred to the drought-relief programme.According to Rukambe, the investigators said they needed more time, since all relief programmes – including drought relief, cash for work and food for work – were being investigated.He said a number of people still had to be interviewed and storage facilities visited.Rukambe pledged that when the investigation was completed, the Karas Regional Council would publicise its findings and recommendations.The investigation team consists of officials delegated by the Ministry of Local and Regional Government.The Karas Council’s Deputy Director of Administration, Esau Kangandjere, has withdrawn from the team because of other work commitments.It was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of last month.The 500 bags of spoilt maize meal were buried in hush-hush fashion seven kilometres outside Keetmanshoop on the Aroab road at the end of February.The bags were discovered in a warehouse when Food Secretariat officials visited the region in November to assess the programme.Sources within the Regional Council said the maize meal, along with canned fish and cooking oil destined for the food-for-work programme, was delivered in 2000.Health officials declared the canned fish and cooking oil fit for human consumption and it has been transferred to the drought-relief programme.According to Rukambe, the investigators said they needed more time, since all relief programmes – including drought relief, cash for work and food for work – were being investigated.He said a number of people still had to be interviewed and storage facilities visited.Rukambe pledged that when the investigation was completed, the Karas Regional Council would publicise its findings and recommendations.The investigation team consists of officials delegated by the Ministry of Local and Regional Government.The Karas Council’s Deputy Director of Administration, Esau Kangandjere, has withdrawn from the team because of other work commitments.