Salmaan Jacobs Tells His Side Of S&T Saga

THE article in your paper on May 21 2007, ‘Southern discomfort as ACC gets to grips with Jacobs probe’ was the last straw and the time has come for me to put the record straight around malicious and defamatory allegations made against me since December 2006.

This is about S&T claims on the trip to Bonn and Berlin, Germany, for the International and Regional Conflict Management workshop in September 2006. I am also doing this because of my grave concern that information is leaking from the Council; and that factor alone should be denounced but thus far efforts made to curb information going out of the Council are being hampered by those siding with culprits there.What also surprised us and needs exposure is people known for corrupt and dubious deals in the region are claiming the moral high ground and are proponents of accusations against me for corruption and fraud.Proverbial throwing of stones at others while living in glass houses.I am not afraid of ACC probing alleged criminal charges, but I welcome them because it will give the whole public at large the chance to judge for themselves my guilt or innocence on the issue.The reasons for my silence thus far was not because of guilt, or lack of evidence to the contrary, but rather respect for procedures of the Government and my conviction that procedurally this should be handled and concluded by the Council, rather than go to the media or make matters public.But because of delaying tactics, for suspicious reasons, both by the Council and the line Ministry to pronounce themselves on this issue, and because my name and reputation are at stake, I cannot wait any longer to put my side of the story to the public.Namibian public and media developed a norm that issues of this nature are being prosecuted and judged in the public domain.Recently, I found my name in Insight Namibia amongst corrupt officials of the Government in their campaign and advert on Zero Tolerance in Jan/Feb’ 07 publication.Which competent court of law found me guilty or which investigation was launched finding me guilty on those charges? What is also disturbing is that The Namibian as a reputable newspaper should have verified facts and information on these allegations, but Luqman Cloete failed to do so.His reporting format remained biased throughout this period from the first to the latest article, which is just recycling of the same trash.It would be better for him to educate himself on claim procedures of the Government to start with.Did I made two claims or not, or was it the same claim, and how are claims being handled in the Government? This basic fact-finding would probably have enabled him to understand claim procedures.I am not talking here about allegations made whether the claim was approved or not, rather their argument that the workshop was a month-long all-expenses paid training event.Procedurally, in Government set-up, when going on a trip, an advance is paid, and when returning, a claim form is filled in and then the S&T is concluded, taking into consideration all expenses, including hours and other incidentals that may have been made during the period.In Government, there are three (3) rates: Rate 1 is paid in full and includes expenses such as Accommodation, Meals and Incidentals.Rate 2 includes Meals and Incidentals.Rate 3 includes only Incidentals.When I was accepted and received the programme, it was clear that the trip was not all-expenses-paid and I immediately wrote a memo in which I mentioned that meals were not fully covered, most evenings and weekend lunch and dinners were excluded, and that appropriate clothing for winter would be required, as well as incidentals like transport, and that I would recommend to be paid Rate 2 which is the rate for meals and incidentals.That memo made provision for the Governor to sign whether he recommends or not, and the claim was processed with the recommendation of the Governor.The Council’s Finance and Administration officials are capable people, and acted when they received the signature of the Governor.When this information was leaked to Luqman, and he is in possession of the documents as he quotes from them even during the last article, why does he not mention that the memo carries the signature and official stamp of the Governor? Why did I request authorisation if I wanted to defraud the Council? If I had requested Rate 1, while knowing the trip was fully paid for, I would have said it is true you have a point and I acted contrary to the claim procedures with the aim to defraud the Council.But to put in a request for Rate 2 and with recommendation of the Chairperson of Management Committee, to cover meals and incidentals is procedural and are catered for.Basic investigations on what it costs to go on a full rate to Europe, and next rates, could also let him know there was no foul play.I provided the Council with documentary evidence of these claims, to prove that claim was approved.No one, either the Council or Ministry, did not acknowledge or pronounce themselves on whether they accepted these documents, or whether these documents in their eyes constituted proof of my stand that claim was procedural.Why the silence and why are we sidetracking the issue? Unless these documents and related evidence are used and investigation undertaken, can my innocence or guilt as alleged be proved, and I can publicly be known as either corrupt official or victim of smear-campaign.I am fully aware however that Luqman Cloete is not alone, and acted only on the instruction of those who wanted me out of the Council.We know of his uncle, his father’s brother, the former CEO of the Council, who is hell-bent to see me out of this Council.We know of senior political leadership who are behind the scene advisors and instigators, and Councillors taking it upon themselves to feed false information to the media.Luqman Cloete is being transported with Government vehicles to attend and cover events.Why the special treatment if he is an ordinary and impartial journalist? I want those who portray me as corrupt to tell me whether anyone talked or wrote about millions of build-together programme monies which disappeared from the Council during the previous CEO’s time.The money for Constituency Offices was depleted and these offices could not be constructed.The Council and Ministry know of millions siphoned off to insurance companies as alleged investments in the name of individuals, contrary to provisions of the Regional Councils Act.SELCO contracts which costs thousands of dollars to the Council and which was done in private names, and staff who were being paid advances for trips they did not undertake.These fraudulent undertakings are known to Council, Ministry and Luqman Cloete, but were any investigations launched or written about in media, or his uncle termed corrupt? The Karas Region has a fair amount of irregularities and deserves investigation, which is known to line Ministries and the public, but why wrap those in silence and single me out as a target? When some of the Municipal officials challenge their Councillors to a fight or call them derogatory names, it is a non-issue.Corrupt practices, misuse of Government property, maladministration and nepotism is rife, husbands and wives running offices of Government, so why am I a threat to those in this region? I will tell you why I am a threat.Since assuming this position, I have been at the forefront of driving regional infrastructure development, curbing administrative malpractices, promoting the region for investment purposes, and instilling credibility in the Council and its administration, to name but few.But equally on the socio-cultural front, being a son of the soil, I have been disturbed by exclusion of our people from developmental, economic and political structures.Imagine seeing Government officials who come to work in this region, being Councillors or occupying positions in political structures.These people have no interest in this region; they have their properties and next of kin in other regions.When it is holiday they go to work on their fields in other regions.My question h
as always been why this is happening? Don’t we have capable people who can lead themselves, who know the problems of the people of the region, and can respond to the cultural needs of these communities? Without investigating root causes, people are labelled lazy, uncommitted, irresponsible, drunkards, and many derogatory names.How did these people come into those positions? Definitely, something is seriously wrong with political structures in this region.My conclusion is that I have made lot of enemies because of these empowerment efforts, both from local leadership of the region, as well as those that have come from somewhere else to occupy those positions.Some of the names I’ve been called since I came to this region are tribalist, regionalist, Muslim fundamentalist, opposition member, you name it.As far as I am concerned, I am not a tribalist or regionalist, but call me one if you like because I propagate people of this region to occupy political positions in this region.You are a tribalist because you instigate tribal dominance of one group over the other.You put people of your tribe into positions of the party and in employment opportunities, and this is what constitutes blatant tribalism.The structures of the Party in the region speak volumes for themselves, and people should not hallucinate and only see and hear what they want to hear.Go and see who is representing Karas Region at the Party Conferences.What a humiliation and shame for us of the region.How can I be regionally bound, and be labelled as such, when speaking for people who are excluded in their own region.I worked for Foreign Affairs as a Namibian and served and represented the nation on international fora and in diplomatic missions.As an Electoral Commissioner, I served all Namibians, irrespective of political affiliation and to promote democracy.I observe serious trends of ethnic domination of one tribe over the other, and it is against the Constitution which guarantees equal opportunities for all citizens of the Republic of Namibia.As far as Islam is concerned, I am a Muslim and will always be.It is a religion of peace and morality, and we practice what we preach, Inshallah.My contention therefore is that ACC as well as the Ministry should launch an investigation on allegations made on the controversial trip.This issue has become so much a public debate and many people have been affected adversely by the ongoing squabbles, not only in the region, but in their personal lives.If we want to put a stop to it, only an investigation will achieve this, whether these claims were procedural or not.And most importantly, only an investigation will clear my name, or confirm that I am a corrupt official as alleged.It should be categorically clear that allegations made against me are politically motivated.It should therefore be seen that I am not confining this article to the allegations made but are bringing in those elements that brought wrath upon me for you to see the broader picture.Long before the allegations of corruption, regional political leadership in their meeting jointly recommended my removal from this position and this region, and reasons were superfluous, therefore it has been an ongoing political plot and deliberate and cowardly efforts to get rid of me.On regional level, one is grossly misunderstood by people who are fighting the same cause of exclusion.Let us join hands to raise awareness amongst our people to actively participate in regional development.Let us see the bigger picture, and resolve our conflicts internally, and let us not allow outsiders to take advantage of our petty differences.The regional resources are not benefiting locals, and this should be addressed appropriately by political leadership of the region.Our people have nowhere else to go.Our ancestors were nomadic, but we have settled here, and we should be part of construction and development of our areas.Only we, the like-minded people, can bring back self-worth and dignity to our people.Others are coming and putting up shebeens and kambashus and when our people become drunkards, they are termed lazy or worthless.We may look worthless but definitely we are not thieves, stealing is not part of our culture.I may be the victim of a smear campaign but when everything is investigated and is over, these concerns of exclusion will continue.There is leadership vacuum in the region and people are misrepresented, which constitutes comparative regional inequality and that’s a fact which deserves serious investigation by the ruling party and national leadership.This letter will open Pandora’s Box of debates, but I stand by what I say here.Call me names: a thief, a defrauder, a tribalist, but you will not dampen my spirit and my resolve that these issues deserve serious debate and I will not rest until I raise sufficient awareness amongst our people that they are excluded and should stand up to take their rightful places and govern as well as lead themselves.It is a constitutional provision and right, therefore should not elude us.Others are only here temporarily, they don’t know our aspirations, they have never been to our houses, so how will they know and understand our cultures? We should not be seen as beggars but it is our share of cake, as was fought for by our forefathers.Their blood waters our freedom.I sound political but you cannot divorce me from politics.I am a product of the system and the struggle.I will continue talking like this, until I see justice prevail in the region where I am a Chief Regional Officer and an Accounting Officer.For the rest of our country, we have other CROs and capable people to speak on behalf of their people and their regions.I now rest my case, and will await response and justice to prevail, for this case, as well as in this region.Salmaan Jacobs Chief Regional Officer KarasI am also doing this because of my grave concern that information is leaking from the Council; and that factor alone should be denounced but thus far efforts made to curb information going out of the Council are being hampered by those siding with culprits there.What also surprised us and needs exposure is people known for corrupt and dubious deals in the region are claiming the moral high ground and are proponents of accusations against me for corruption and fraud.Proverbial throwing of stones at others while living in glass houses.I am not afraid of ACC probing alleged criminal charges, but I welcome them because it will give the whole public at large the chance to judge for themselves my guilt or innocence on the issue.The reasons for my silence thus far was not because of guilt, or lack of evidence to the contrary, but rather respect for procedures of the Government and my conviction that procedurally this should be handled and concluded by the Council, rather than go to the media or make matters public.But because of delaying tactics, for suspicious reasons, both by the Council and the line Ministry to pronounce themselves on this issue, and because my name and reputation are at stake, I cannot wait any longer to put my side of the story to the public.Namibian public and media developed a norm that issues of this nature are being prosecuted and judged in the public domain.Recently, I found my name in Insight Namibia amongst corrupt officials of the Government in their campaign and advert on Zero Tolerance in Jan/Feb’ 07 publication.Which competent court of law found me guilty or which investigation was launched finding me guilty on those charges? What is also disturbing is that The Namibian as a reputable newspaper should have verified facts and information on these allegations, but Luqman Cloete failed to do so.His reporting format remained biased throughout this period from the first to the latest article, which is just recycling of the same trash.It would be better for him to educate himself on claim procedures of the Government to start with.Did I made two claims or not, or was it the same claim, and how are claims being handled in the Government? This basic fact-finding would probably have enabled him to understand claim procedures.I am not talking here about allegations made whet
her the claim was approved or not, rather their argument that the workshop was a month-long all-expenses paid training event.Procedurally, in Government set-up, when going on a trip, an advance is paid, and when returning, a claim form is filled in and then the S&T is concluded, taking into consideration all expenses, including hours and other incidentals that may have been made during the period.In Government, there are three (3) rates: Rate 1 is paid in full and includes expenses such as Accommodation, Meals and Incidentals.Rate 2 includes Meals and Incidentals.Rate 3 includes only Incidentals.When I was accepted and received the programme, it was clear that the trip was not all-expenses-paid and I immediately wrote a memo in which I mentioned that meals were not fully covered, most evenings and weekend lunch and dinners were excluded, and that appropriate clothing for winter would be required, as well as incidentals like transport, and that I would recommend to be paid Rate 2 which is the rate for meals and incidentals.That memo made provision for the Governor to sign whether he recommends or not, and the claim was processed with the recommendation of the Governor.The Council’s Finance and Administration officials are capable people, and acted when they received the signature of the Governor.When this information was leaked to Luqman, and he is in possession of the documents as he quotes from them even during the last article, why does he not mention that the memo carries the signature and official stamp of the Governor? Why did I request authorisation if I wanted to defraud the Council? If I had requested Rate 1, while knowing the trip was fully paid for, I would have said it is true you have a point and I acted contrary to the claim procedures with the aim to defraud the Council.But to put in a request for Rate 2 and with recommendation of the Chairperson of Management Committee, to cover meals and incidentals is procedural and are catered for.Basic investigations on what it costs to go on a full rate to Europe, and next rates, could also let him know there was no foul play.I provided the Council with documentary evidence of these claims, to prove that claim was approved.No one, either the Council or Ministry, did not acknowledge or pronounce themselves on whether they accepted these documents, or whether these documents in their eyes constituted proof of my stand that claim was procedural.Why the silence and why are we sidetracking the issue? Unless these documents and related evidence are used and investigation undertaken, can my innocence or guilt as alleged be proved, and I can publicly be known as either corrupt official or victim of smear-campaign.I am fully aware however that Luqman Cloete is not alone, and acted only on the instruction of those who wanted me out of the Council.We know of his uncle, his father’s brother, the former CEO of the Council, who is hell-bent to see me out of this Council.We know of senior political leadership who are behind the scene advisors and instigators, and Councillors taking it upon themselves to feed false information to the media.Luqman Cloete is being transported with Government vehicles to attend and cover events.Why the special treatment if he is an ordinary and impartial journalist? I want those who portray me as corrupt to tell me whether anyone talked or wrote about millions of build-together programme monies which disappeared from the Council during the previous CEO’s time.The money for Constituency Offices was depleted and these offices could not be constructed.The Council and Ministry know of millions siphoned off to insurance companies as alleged investments in the name of individuals, contrary to provisions of the Regional Councils Act.SELCO contracts which costs thousands of dollars to the Council and which was done in private names, and staff who were being paid advances for trips they did not undertake. These fraudulent undertakings are known to Council, Ministry and Luqman Cloete, but were any investigations launched or written about in media, or his uncle termed corrupt? The Karas Region has a fair amount of irregularities and deserves investigation, which is known to line Ministries and the public, but why wrap those in silence and single me out as a target? When some of the Municipal officials challenge their Councillors to a fight or call them derogatory names, it is a non-issue.Corrupt practices, misuse of Government property, maladministration and nepotism is rife, husbands and wives running offices of Government, so why am I a threat to those in this region? I will tell you why I am a threat.Since assuming this position, I have been at the forefront of driving regional infrastructure development, curbing administrative malpractices, promoting the region for investment purposes, and instilling credibility in the Council and its administration, to name but few.But equally on the socio-cultural front, being a son of the soil, I have been disturbed by exclusion of our people from developmental, economic and political structures.Imagine seeing Government officials who come to work in this region, being Councillors or occupying positions in political structures.These people have no interest in this region; they have their properties and next of kin in other regions.When it is holiday they go to work on their fields in other regions.My question has always been why this is happening? Don’t we have capable people who can lead themselves, who know the problems of the people of the region, and can respond to the cultural needs of these communities? Without investigating root causes, people are labelled lazy, uncommitted, irresponsible, drunkards, and many derogatory names.How did these people come into those positions? Definitely, something is seriously wrong with political structures in this region.My conclusion is that I have made lot of enemies because of these empowerment efforts, both from local leadership of the region, as well as those that have come from somewhere else to occupy those positions.Some of the names I’ve been called since I came to this region are tribalist, regionalist, Muslim fundamentalist, opposition member, you name it.As far as I am concerned, I am not a tribalist or regionalist, but call me one if you like because I propagate people of this region to occupy political positions in this region.You are a tribalist because you instigate tribal dominance of one group over the other.You put people of your tribe into positions of the party and in employment opportunities, and this is what constitutes blatant tribalism.The structures of the Party in the region speak volumes for themselves, and people should not hallucinate and only see and hear what they want to hear.Go and see who is representing Karas Region at the Party Conferences.What a humiliation and shame for us of the region.How can I be regionally bound, and be labelled as such, when speaking for people who are excluded in their own region.I worked for Foreign Affairs as a Namibian and served and represented the nation on international fora and in diplomatic missions.As an Electoral Commissioner, I served all Namibians, irrespective of political affiliation and to promote democracy.I observe serious trends of ethnic domination of one tribe over the other, and it is against the Constitution which guarantees equal opportunities for all citizens of the Republic of Namibia.As far as Islam is concerned, I am a Muslim and will always be.It is a religion of peace and morality, and we practice what we preach, Inshallah.My contention therefore is that ACC as well as the Ministry should launch an investigation on allegations made on the controversial trip.This issue has become so much a public debate and many people have been affected adversely by the ongoing squabbles, not only in the region, but in their personal lives.If we want to put a stop to it, only an investigation will achieve this, whether these claims were procedural or not.And most importantly, only an investigation will clear my name, or confirm that I am a corrupt official as alleged.It should be categorically clear that allegations made again
st me are politically motivated.It should therefore be seen that I am not confining this article to the allegations made but are bringing in those elements that brought wrath upon me for you to see the broader picture.Long before the allegations of corruption, regional political leadership in their meeting jointly recommended my removal from this position and this region, and reasons were superfluous, therefore it has been an ongoing political plot and deliberate and cowardly efforts to get rid of me.On regional level, one is grossly misunderstood by people who are fighting the same cause of exclusion.Let us join hands to raise awareness amongst our people to actively participate in regional development.Let us see the bigger picture, and resolve our conflicts internally, and let us not allow outsiders to take advantage of our petty differences.The regional resources are not benefiting locals, and this should be addressed appropriately by political leadership of the region. Our people have nowhere else to go.Our ancestors were nomadic, but we have settled here, and we should be part of construction and development of our areas.Only we, the like-minded people, can bring back self-worth and dignity to our people.Others are coming and putting up shebeens and kambashus and when our people become drunkards, they are termed lazy or worthless.We may look worthless but definitely we are not thieves, stealing is not part of our culture.I may be the victim of a smear campaign but when everything is investigated and is over, these concerns of exclusion will continue.There is leadership vacuum in the region and people are misrepresented, which constitutes comparative regional inequality and that’s a fact which deserves serious investigation by the ruling party and national leadership.This letter will open Pandora’s Box of debates, but I stand by what I say here.Call me names: a thief, a defrauder, a tribalist, but you will not dampen my spirit and my resolve that these issues deserve serious debate and I will not rest until I raise sufficient awareness amongst our people that they are excluded and should stand up to take their rightful places and govern as well as lead themselves.It is a constitutional provision and right, therefore should not elude us.Others are only here temporarily, they don’t know our aspirations, they have never been to our houses, so how will they know and understand our cultures? We should not be seen as beggars but it is our share of cake, as was fought for by our forefathers.Their blood waters our freedom.I sound political but you cannot divorce me from politics.I am a product of the system and the struggle.I will continue talking like this, until I see justice prevail in the region where I am a Chief Regional Officer and an Accounting Officer.For the rest of our country, we have other CROs and capable people to speak on behalf of their people and their regions.I now rest my case, and will await response and justice to prevail, for this case, as well as in this region.Salmaan Jacobs Chief Regional Officer Karas