Karibib Council in standoff with suspended CEO

IF the Karibib Town Council does not involve the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing and Rural Development in its disciplinary procedures against CEO Lydia Kandetu, then it must either drop the charges against her, or pay out her salary for the three years remaining of her term.

This was apparently the outcome of a meeting between Kandetu’s attorneys in Windhoek and the council’s management committee last Friday, sources told The Namibian.
The sources said last Friday was allegedly Kandetu’s ‘last chance’ to be present at a disciplinary hearing with the council, where she faced several charges involving alleged irregular management and misconduct, most of which allegedly still stem from her first suspension in 2007. If she had not attended, a decision on her fate would have been taken in her absence, sources said.
According to a council resolution in 2007, Kandetu’s charges included illegal tender awarding, handing in claims without approval from the management committee and transferring of hundreds of thousands of dollars without Council approval.
She was also accused of not giving her co-operation, being dishonest and failing to be transparent, and accusing the Management Committee of not tabling full recommendations at council meetings.
In June 2008, after a meeting with Minister Jerry Ekandjo and a high-level Ministry delegation, Kandetu’s suspension was lifted and she returned to office with immediate effect.
The disciplinary charges against her would be dropped, it was agreed at the meeting.
The sources said since Kandetu’s fourth suspension in about two years on 24 November last year, she was ordered to be present at three scheduled disciplinary hearings in December and earlier this month, which she missed.
Another hearing was arranged for last Friday, January 16. Kandetu was again absent, but her lawyers attended.
Sources told The Namibian that Kandetu’s lawyers put three options to the council: either involve the Ministry in the matter, or drop the charges against her, or pay out her salary for the remainder of her contract.
A meeting was apparently scheduled for February 10 to discuss the council’s decision and the way forward.
Asked to confirm the terms put to the council, Kandetu’s lawyers said that it ‘was not the correct version’ and advised The Namibian to read the Informanté for details.
The Namibian tried to get comment from Kandetu, but her phone was off and according to the source, she may be using a new number.
Karibib’s Mayor, Godfriedine Kafita, refused to comment on the matter.
‘Karibib is divided – the community, and in the municipality. You get those on Kandetu’s side, and those on council’s side. It’s a 50/50 issue. No one knows what is really going on. No one wants to give the right information regarding Kandetu’s issue,’ a source said. – adam@namibian.com.na