The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has launched an investigation into the Omaruru Municipality following allegations of double plot allocations, governance failures and irregular accommodation arrangements involving the chief executive.
Other concerns include allegations that the municipality has failed to hold regular council meetings.
It is not clear how many properties are involved as an internal audit is yet to be conducted.
These issues were raised on Wednesday by urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa following a closed-door meeting with Omaruru councillors and the municipality’s management team.
Sankwasa said the meeting was productive, although the matters raised could not be resolved immediately.
The minister said some of the allegations appear to be valid, while others stem from misunderstandings regarding legal procedures and governance requirements.
“There is a need for further investigations and an internal audit.
It seems like there is hostility and tempers from both sides,” Sankwasa said.
He said councillors must avoid bringing political party agendas into council chambers, warning that political divisions disrupt service delivery and create instability within local authorities.
Sankwasa described the council as dysfunctional and instructed Erongo Regional Council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe to urgently facilitate further engagements between councillors and management.
“We had a good meeting with the councillors and staff members.
What we are doing is for the residents of Omaruru, not for our own choices or interests.
We chose to be servants of the people and to work in the best interest of our community,” he said.
Omaruru Municipality chief executive Valentinus Sindongo has denied allegations that he is staying in a hotel at the municipality’s expense.
However, he confirms that the municipality is paying for the house in which he currently resides, saying the arrangement is in line with an agreement.
Meanwhile, Omaruru mayor Eberth Gariseb says the council welcomes the investigation initiated by the ministry.
Gariseb says the council is fully cooperating with oversight mechanisms provided for under the Local Authorities Act of 1992.
“The current council wishes to place on record that it fully welcomes and cooperates with any oversight mechanisms exercised by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in accordance with the Local Authorities Act No. 23 of 1992.
Accountability and transparency are values this council holds dear,” he says.
Gariseb says the current council inherited several unresolved governance and administrative problems from the previous council.
He says the collapse of effective governance under the previous council severely damaged public trust and confidence in the municipality.
“Residents of Omaruru watched as their local authority became synonymous with dysfunction, mismanagement and broken trust.
That era is over,” Gariseb says.
Regarding the chief executive’s accommodation, Gariseb says the matter is currently under review and that the council will take a decision in line with legal and financial regulations.
On the allegations of double allocation of plots, he says the municipality remains committed to ensuring that all property transactions are lawful, transparent and properly recorded.
Any irregularities uncovered, he says, will be referred to the appropriate authorities for further action.
Gariseb assures residents that the municipality is working to restore regular council meetings in compliance with the Local Authorities Act.
“We acknowledge that the residents of Omaruru have endured a prolonged period of uncertainty, neglect and diminished confidence in their local authority,” he says.
He adds that the council remains committed to restoring institutional integrity, rebuilding public trust and improving service delivery to residents of Omaruru.
