Katrina cries on Pohamba’s shoulder

HARDAP Governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has called on the President and the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate money that allegedly went missing at the Hardap Regional Council during the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

This emerged from a copy of a document, leaked to The Namibian, that Hanse-Himarwa handed over to President Hifikepunye Pohamba during her State House visit on Wednesday. According to Hanse-Himarwa’s 14-page report to Pohamba, an audit report revealed that Council failed to account for N$350 000.She added that an amount of N$139 792 debtors had owed the Council could also not be verified due to a lack of supporting documents, such as debtor’s list during the 2002/03 fiscal year.Additionally, an investment of N$516 830 made with Fedsure Insurance company was done without prior ministerial approval.”A closer look of that specific report [audit report] will mostly definitely open a Pandora’s box and disprove the theory of perfectionism, which was being displayed by certain prominent people in the chambers of the Hardap Regional Council,” the Governor’s report stated.Hanse-Himarwa said the alleged embezzlement happened under the leadership of former Governor Pieter Boltman and Regional Councillor Karl Kisting, who at times took over the governorship from Boltman under a rotation agreement.Hanse-Himarwa also accused suspended Chief Regional Officer James Sankwasa of failing in his administrative duties and instead acting “as a self-imposed political advisor” in an effort to boot her out of office.”He groomed and developed a sinister force consisting of Willy Swartz, Francis Basson, Councillor Edward Wambo and Kisting to technically boot me out of office,” she claimed.Briefing Pohamba on fights she has been embroiled in with Rehoboth Swapo District Co-ordinator Willie Swartz, Hanse-Himarwa claimed provocation from Swartz had triggered the verbal and physical clashes between the two.At one stage Swartz had used vulgar language towards her in the presence of former Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, Hanse-Himarwa claimed.Hanse-Himarwa called on President Pohamba to launch an investigation into Swartz’s public behaviour.”I feel strong action must be taken against Swartz, because he feels he is untouchable and above everybody,” she said.She also took a swipe at The Namibian and Die Republikein, claiming the newspapers had intentionally tarnished her name with the aim of ending her political career.Hanse-Himarwa failed to brief the President on a public brawl, involving her and another woman, during her sister’s wedding last year.Following a media report on the incident, the President had ordered Local Government Minister John Pandeni to launch an investigation into the brawl.According to Hanse-Himarwa’s 14-page report to Pohamba, an audit report revealed that Council failed to account for N$350 000.She added that an amount of N$139 792 debtors had owed the Council could also not be verified due to a lack of supporting documents, such as debtor’s list during the 2002/03 fiscal year.Additionally, an investment of N$516 830 made with Fedsure Insurance company was done without prior ministerial approval.”A closer look of that specific report [audit report] will mostly definitely open a Pandora’s box and disprove the theory of perfectionism, which was being displayed by certain prominent people in the chambers of the Hardap Regional Council,” the Governor’s report stated.Hanse-Himarwa said the alleged embezzlement happened under the leadership of former Governor Pieter Boltman and Regional Councillor Karl Kisting, who at times took over the governorship from Boltman under a rotation agreement.Hanse-Himarwa also accused suspended Chief Regional Officer James Sankwasa of failing in his administrative duties and instead acting “as a self-imposed political advisor” in an effort to boot her out of office.”He groomed and developed a sinister force consisting of Willy Swartz, Francis Basson, Councillor Edward Wambo and Kisting to technically boot me out of office,” she claimed.Briefing Pohamba on fights she has been embroiled in with Rehoboth Swapo District Co-ordinator Willie Swartz, Hanse-Himarwa claimed provocation from Swartz had triggered the verbal and physical clashes between the two.At one stage Swartz had used vulgar language towards her in the presence of former Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, Hanse-Himarwa claimed.Hanse-Himarwa called on President Pohamba to launch an investigation into Swartz’s public behaviour.”I feel strong action must be taken against Swartz, because he feels he is untouchable and above everybody,” she said.She also took a swipe at The Namibian and Die Republikein, claiming the newspapers had intentionally tarnished her name with the aim of ending her political career.Hanse-Himarwa failed to brief the President on a public brawl, involving her and another woman, during her sister’s wedding last year.Following a media report on the incident, the President had ordered Local Government Minister John Pandeni to launch an investigation into the brawl.