Otjiwarongo official still not charged

THE Otjiwarongo Municipality has still not laid charges of alleged fraud against its suspended Town Clerk, Paulus Haipare.

Haipare and former Town Treasurer Immanuel Kaundje were suspended at the end of January. However, to date no reasons have been provided for the suspension.Town Secretary Manfred /Uxamb is acting in Haipare’s position.Sources at the town said it has been alleged that Haipare and Kaundje received kickbacks for municipal investments they awarded.The Municipality last week advertised the post of Town Treasurer, following Kaundje’s resignation – he quit moments before he was informed of the suspension.The Municipality’s Public Relations Officer Ismael /Howoseb said yesterday that Kaundje had not provided reasons to Council for terminating his employment, but that it had accepted his resignation.Kaundje has previously told The Namibian that ill-health and the prospects of another job had played a role in his decision.Meanwhile, Haipare maintains he is innocent.He said yesterday that he was still awaiting reasons for his suspension.He said he had consulted the Namibia Public Workers’ Union about the matter.”I didn’t hear anything of that,” was his response to questions about insider claims that he was involved in fraud.He has been suspended on full pay but Haipare told The Namibian that it was rumoured his benefits would be cut soon.Conceding that the outcome of the investigation was “dragging on for a long time”, /Howoseb confirmed yesterday that Haipare still had to be charged.This move, he said, depended on advice from auditors and their legal team.According to him, an audit had been completed but the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing still had be informed of the outcome.He said although Kaundje had resigned, he could still face charges if evidence indicated he was involved in suspected mismanagement.”We still have to follow up,” he told The Namibian./Howoseb could not say when council expected to take an action on the matter.However, to date no reasons have been provided for the suspension.Town Secretary Manfred /Uxamb is acting in Haipare’s position.Sources at the town said it has been alleged that Haipare and Kaundje received kickbacks for municipal investments they awarded.The Municipality last week advertised the post of Town Treasurer, following Kaundje’s resignation – he quit moments before he was informed of the suspension.The Municipality’s Public Relations Officer Ismael /Howoseb said yesterday that Kaundje had not provided reasons to Council for terminating his employment, but that it had accepted his resignation.Kaundje has previously told The Namibian that ill-health and the prospects of another job had played a role in his decision.Meanwhile, Haipare maintains he is innocent.He said yesterday that he was still awaiting reasons for his suspension.He said he had consulted the Namibia Public Workers’ Union about the matter.”I didn’t hear anything of that,” was his response to questions about insider claims that he was involved in fraud.He has been suspended on full pay but Haipare told The Namibian that it was rumoured his benefits would be cut soon.Conceding that the outcome of the investigation was “dragging on for a long time”, /Howoseb confirmed yesterday that Haipare still had to be charged.This move, he said, depended on advice from auditors and their legal team.According to him, an audit had been completed but the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing still had be informed of the outcome.He said although Kaundje had resigned, he could still face charges if evidence indicated he was involved in suspected mismanagement.”We still have to follow up,” he told The Namibian./Howoseb could not say when council expected to take an action on the matter.