Pandeni vows to disprove critics

THE Khomas Regional Council has shot down allegations by one of its employees that it is guilty of mismanagement and favouritism.

Khomas Governor John Pandeni called a press conference on Friday to respond to the accusations maintaining that they were devoid of any truth. A driver wrote to two newspapers a fortnight ago alleging that staff in the council’s lower ranks were not considered for training, promotions and other privileges related to conditions of service.JP Katanga maintained that while drivers like himself were no longer eligible for overtime pay, councillors were being sent on training valued at as much as N$17 000 for only a few days and in one instance the council had paid more than N$100 000 in subsistence allowances to an individual for this purpose.But Pandeni has insisted that all training that staff underwent was in line with the council’s annual work plan and that each instance was accounted for in its budget.Pandeni said the allegations had warranted a prompt investigation of several departments within the council, which, he said, had extended to the past two financial years.”It should be noted that Mr JP Katanga is a habitual allegation maker.There is nothing, but nothing for council to hide.We will welcome any independent investigation at any time,” Pandeni told the media.Katanga claimed that the training that staff received was lost to the council and that the office lacked ethics and that its communication channels, both with the staff and community it was supposed to serve, were poor.But an internal audit launched by the council last week in response to the attacks, Pandeni said, had revealed that no council staff had undergone more than three courses or workshops during a particular financial year.In fact, the Governor accused Katanga of abusing the system, claiming that he was one amongst the staff whose overtime claims were higher than most others.Pandeni said staff were encouraged to carry out their duties during normal working hours and that each staff member could only claim a certain maximum yearly amount as overtime.”The indication to the staff member in question about his limits on overtime, demonstrates the council’s commitment to uphold strict budgetary measures,” said Pandeni.The Governor said allegations of a poor personnel management system and financial management could be verified once audits by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Auditor General were finalised.Pandeni said Katanga was guilty of not complying with council rules and regularly parked Government vehicles at his house, outside of normal working hours.A driver wrote to two newspapers a fortnight ago alleging that staff in the council’s lower ranks were not considered for training, promotions and other privileges related to conditions of service.JP Katanga maintained that while drivers like himself were no longer eligible for overtime pay, councillors were being sent on training valued at as much as N$17 000 for only a few days and in one instance the council had paid more than N$100 000 in subsistence allowances to an individual for this purpose.But Pandeni has insisted that all training that staff underwent was in line with the council’s annual work plan and that each instance was accounted for in its budget.Pandeni said the allegations had warranted a prompt investigation of several departments within the council, which, he said, had extended to the past two financial years.”It should be noted that Mr JP Katanga is a habitual allegation maker.There is nothing, but nothing for council to hide.We will welcome any independent investigation at any time,” Pandeni told the media.Katanga claimed that the training that staff received was lost to the council and that the office lacked ethics and that its communication channels, both with the staff and community it was supposed to serve, were poor.But an internal audit launched by the council last week in response to the attacks, Pandeni said, had revealed that no council staff had undergone more than three courses or workshops during a particular financial year.In fact, the Governor accused Katanga of abusing the system, claiming that he was one amongst the staff whose overtime claims were higher than most others.Pandeni said staff were encouraged to carry out their duties during normal working hours and that each staff member could only claim a certain maximum yearly amount as overtime.”The indication to the staff member in question about his limits on overtime, demonstrates the council’s commitment to uphold strict budgetary measures,” said Pandeni.The Governor said allegations of a poor personnel management system and financial management could be verified once audits by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Auditor General were finalised.Pandeni said Katanga was guilty of not complying with council rules and regularly parked Government vehicles at his house, outside of normal working hours.