AN Anti-Corruption Commission investigator last week investigated corruption allegations at the Keetmanshoop Municipality, The Namibian has established.
This follows a complaint lodged by Councillor Moses Titus at the beginning of the year, The Namibian was told. The Municipality’s Chief Executive Jeremia Shangadhi yesterday confirmed the corruption inquiry, but declined to give more details.A well-placed source said the allegations included the charging of N$1 000 for illegal dumping of waste in residential areas, illegal occupation, subletting of municipal camps and tender irregularities.The illegal occupation and subletting of municipal camps involves two councillors, The Namibian was informed.Two weeks ago speculations were rife over the resignation of the municipality’s CEO, following a public row with community activist Carl Christiaans.The resignation was confirmed by one group of the split Town Council, while the other group, including Mayor Finna Elago, denied any knowledge of it.Yesterday Shangadhi also denied the speculation.”I don’t know anything about a resignation, it was news to me when I read in the newspaper,” he said.At the time when it was first reported, several attempts to reach Shangadhi for comment were unsuccessful.Meanwhile, the town’s residents have lashed out at the Town Council and its management, claiming that incompetence led to the recent embezzlement of more than N$700 000 at the municipality.At a community meeting on Monday afternoon, the residents vowed to exhaust all possible avenues to hold the Council accountable.One resident said it was no secret that the infighting in the local authority was based on self-interest.”Instead of devoting time to bringing development to the town, the Council is too busy with factional infighting,” he said.”Keetmanshoop is on its way of becoming a ghost town.”A committee was elected at the meeting to take up the residents’ grievances with the Minister of Local and Regional Government.The Municipality’s Chief Executive Jeremia Shangadhi yesterday confirmed the corruption inquiry, but declined to give more details.A well-placed source said the allegations included the charging of N$1 000 for illegal dumping of waste in residential areas, illegal occupation, subletting of municipal camps and tender irregularities.The illegal occupation and subletting of municipal camps involves two councillors, The Namibian was informed.Two weeks ago speculations were rife over the resignation of the municipality’s CEO, following a public row with community activist Carl Christiaans. The resignation was confirmed by one group of the split Town Council, while the other group, including Mayor Finna Elago, denied any knowledge of it.Yesterday Shangadhi also denied the speculation.”I don’t know anything about a resignation, it was news to me when I read in the newspaper,” he said.At the time when it was first reported, several attempts to reach Shangadhi for comment were unsuccessful.Meanwhile, the town’s residents have lashed out at the Town Council and its management, claiming that incompetence led to the recent embezzlement of more than N$700 000 at the municipality.At a community meeting on Monday afternoon, the residents vowed to exhaust all possible avenues to hold the Council accountable.One resident said it was no secret that the infighting in the local authority was based on self-interest.”Instead of devoting time to bringing development to the town, the Council is too busy with factional infighting,” he said.”Keetmanshoop is on its way of becoming a ghost town.”A committee was elected at the meeting to take up the residents’ grievances with the Minister of Local and Regional Government.
