Karas jetsetters raise eyebrows

A WEEK-LONG trip to Asia by three Karas Regional Council officials cost the taxpayer close to N$100 000.

According to documents seen by The Namibian, the trip was paid out of the Council’s development budget because its travel expenses budget for the fiscal year 2007-2008 had been depleted. The trip to China was aimed at attracting foreign investors to the Karas Region.According to a source, the Chinese partners paid for the group’s meals and accommodation for three days, but this was not communicated to the Council before the officials went on the trip.The trip was part of a co-operation agreement signed in 2002 between Huai’an city in China and the Karas Regional Council.Documents revealed that the travel expenses for Council officials – including Regional Councillor Paulus Epfraim, Chief Regional Officer Salmaan Jacobs and Development Planner Ralph Sachika – amounted to N$27 823.Council forked out an additional N$54 072 for the delegation’s plane tickets.Ecumenical Community School headmaster Joseph Mckay accompanied the officials at the request of Karas Governor Dawid Boois to provide details on the school’s project proposal, which had previously been submitted to the Chinese partners, The Namibian was informed.Another official, Louis Esterhuizen, an employee of the Ministry of Regional Government, also went on the trip at the ministry’s cost.The documents revealed that the Council initially had only authorised N$16 823 in travel expenses, but the officials apparently ran out of cash while abroad.They then asked for another N$11 000, which was sent to them via bank transfer by the Council’s Finance Director after the Chief Regional Officer allegedly pressurised him to do so, The Namibian was informed.Jacobs and Sachika received N$8 202 and N$7 357 respectively.Epfraim received N$12 263, although he only joined the others two days later after missing his flight.Karas Governor Dawid Boois declined to comment when approached by The Namibian.The trip is expected to top the agenda for next week’s Council’s meeting.The trip to China was aimed at attracting foreign investors to the Karas Region.According to a source, the Chinese partners paid for the group’s meals and accommodation for three days, but this was not communicated to the Council before the officials went on the trip.The trip was part of a co-operation agreement signed in 2002 between Huai’an city in China and the Karas Regional Council.Documents revealed that the travel expenses for Council officials – including Regional Councillor Paulus Epfraim, Chief Regional Officer Salmaan Jacobs and Development Planner Ralph Sachika – amounted to N$27 823. Council forked out an additional N$54 072 for the delegation’s plane tickets.Ecumenical Community School headmaster Joseph Mckay accompanied the officials at the request of Karas Governor Dawid Boois to provide details on the school’s project proposal, which had previously been submitted to the Chinese partners, The Namibian was informed.Another official, Louis Esterhuizen, an employee of the Ministry of Regional Government, also went on the trip at the ministry’s cost.The documents revealed that the Council initially had only authorised N$16 823 in travel expenses, but the officials apparently ran out of cash while abroad.They then asked for another N$11 000, which was sent to them via bank transfer by the Council’s Finance Director after the Chief Regional Officer allegedly pressurised him to do so, The Namibian was informed.Jacobs and Sachika received N$8 202 and N$7 357 respectively.Epfraim received N$12 263, although he only joined the others two days later after missing his flight.Karas Governor Dawid Boois declined to comment when approached by The Namibian.The trip is expected to top the agenda for next week’s Council’s meeting.