Otjiwarongo CEO gets golden handshake

THE Otjiwarongo Municipality has given former Chief Executive Officer Paulus Haipare a golden handshake despite claiming earlier that he was guilty of mismanagement.

The Municipality advertised Haipare’s job in the media. Haipare, suspended in January last year because of his alleged involvement in an investment deal with a broker which resulted in a string of charges, confirmed that he received an amount equal to his basic salary up to February next year.However, he said, he was still seeking clarity from the Municipality on how they arrived at the decision and why certain benefits such as pension and medical aid were not included in the package.His contract was originally set to end in February 2006 but he was suspended at the beginning of last year and fired in December.He was dismissed a month after the Council informed him of a pending disciplinary hearing.The dismissal letter indicated that Haipare was apparently supposed to leave office in 2002 already because his term had expired.However, he continued to get his full benefits until July this year.At the same time Haipare was getting his salary, the acting Chief Executive Officer, Manfred Uxamb, was receiving an allowance of N$2 000 on top of his normal salary.However, after an investigation the Minister of Regional and Local Government, John Pandeni, ordered that Uxamb pay back the money.Otjiwarongo Mayor Otto Ipinge earlier said they had forwarded Haipare’s case to the Police for investigation.Ipinge refused to comment on the new settlement or an allegation by Haipare that he and fellow councillors Julius Neumbo and Susy Gideon were “causing chaos at the Municipality and the town as a whole”.Haipare said the three councillors were using the Town Council and Swapo party for their own political gain and, in the process, were responsible for many problems in the Otjozondjupa Region.”It’s what he says.I have no comment on that,” said Ipinge.Neumbo described Haipare’s statements as “childish” and said it was not worth commenting on.”How can he say that there is chaos? We have a Police station.You can ask the station commander whether they are aware of any chaos.Mr Maletsky, I am busy.Don’t call me with childish things,” Neumbo said.Gideon could not be reached for comment.Haipare, suspended in January last year because of his alleged involvement in an investment deal with a broker which resulted in a string of charges, confirmed that he received an amount equal to his basic salary up to February next year.However, he said, he was still seeking clarity from the Municipality on how they arrived at the decision and why certain benefits such as pension and medical aid were not included in the package.His contract was originally set to end in February 2006 but he was suspended at the beginning of last year and fired in December.He was dismissed a month after the Council informed him of a pending disciplinary hearing.The dismissal letter indicated that Haipare was apparently supposed to leave office in 2002 already because his term had expired.However, he continued to get his full benefits until July this year.At the same time Haipare was getting his salary, the acting Chief Executive Officer, Manfred Uxamb, was receiving an allowance of N$2 000 on top of his normal salary.However, after an investigation the Minister of Regional and Local Government, John Pandeni, ordered that Uxamb pay back the money.Otjiwarongo Mayor Otto Ipinge earlier said they had forwarded Haipare’s case to the Police for investigation.Ipinge refused to comment on the new settlement or an allegation by Haipare that he and fellow councillors Julius Neumbo and Susy Gideon were “causing chaos at the Municipality and the town as a whole”.Haipare said the three councillors were using the Town Council and Swapo party for their own political gain and, in the process, were responsible for many problems in the Otjozondjupa Region.”It’s what he says.I have no comment on that,” said Ipinge.Neumbo described Haipare’s statements as “childish” and said it was not worth commenting on.”How can he say that there is chaos? We have a Police station.You can ask the station commander whether they are aware of any chaos.Mr Maletsky, I am busy.Don’t call me with childish things,” Neumbo said.Gideon could not be reached for comment.