Spitzkoppe camp spending probed

AN investigation is being conducted at the Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp after it emerged that certain income from the project has not been accounted for.

Several people confirmed that Damara Chief Immanuel #Nu-Axa /Gaseb of the !Oe-#Gån community in the area has ordered the Chiefs Council to conduct a thorough probe into the running of the rest camp after some Spitzkoppe residents sounded the alarm. Local headman Benjamin Mudago !Naruseb confirmed that a probe has been launched and that the report will soon be submitted to /Gaseb for a decision on the future of those who work there.He, however, pleaded that reports on the project be delayed until after the outcome of the investigation so as not to jeopardise it.The Namibian has established that a financial report on the project was due at the end of last year.However it has not yet been submitted to stakeholders, including the Chiefs Council.Both !Naruseb and the camp manager Ryan Gariseb denied that money had been misappropriated.According to Gariseb, the report was delayed because they were too busy running the camp.The founder of the tourist camp, John Ramakhutla, said he had been approached by sections of the Spitzkoppe community who requested that he return to the project, as it was deteriorating.”When I left the project a few years back, between 30 and 40 people worked there.We had a five-year plan that would have employed more people but it seems that it was thrown out the window.Now only 16 people are employed and people from the 26 farms surrounding Spitzkoppe hardly benefited from the project,” he said.He said the allegation was that a small clique of people had taken over the project and were running it like their own property.Another allegation was that around N$500 000 donated to the project by filmmakers could not be accounted for.Both camp manager Gariseb and headman !Naruseb denied the allegation but confirmed that it was one of the things being probed by the team assigned by !Oe-#Gån chief /Gaseb.Ramakhutla said there would be a community meeting on Tuesday to discuss the community’s concerns about the project.Although they will attend the meeting, both headman !Naruseb and Gariseb questioned Ramakhutla’s return to the project.”As who does he come and have meetings here? The community did not want him and that is the reason why he is no longer involved.Which community wants him back?” Gariseb asked.Ramakhutla said he left the project after three years as the community felt they were ready to run it themselves.”As things are at the moment, some people felt I must come back.There are lots of young people who left school and are lying around at farms in the area who should have been employed by the project by now,” he said.The community is utilising the tourism potential of the Spitzkoppe to earn an income.The camp is equipped with the basic facilities required by day and overnight visitors.Local headman Benjamin Mudago !Naruseb confirmed that a probe has been launched and that the report will soon be submitted to /Gaseb for a decision on the future of those who work there.He, however, pleaded that reports on the project be delayed until after the outcome of the investigation so as not to jeopardise it.The Namibian has established that a financial report on the project was due at the end of last year. However it has not yet been submitted to stakeholders, including the Chiefs Council.Both !Naruseb and the camp manager Ryan Gariseb denied that money had been misappropriated.According to Gariseb, the report was delayed because they were too busy running the camp.The founder of the tourist camp, John Ramakhutla, said he had been approached by sections of the Spitzkoppe community who requested that he return to the project, as it was deteriorating.”When I left the project a few years back, between 30 and 40 people worked there.We had a five-year plan that would have employed more people but it seems that it was thrown out the window.Now only 16 people are employed and people from the 26 farms surrounding Spitzkoppe hardly benefited from the project,” he said.He said the allegation was that a small clique of people had taken over the project and were running it like their own property.Another allegation was that around N$500 000 donated to the project by filmmakers could not be accounted for.Both camp manager Gariseb and headman !Naruseb denied the allegation but confirmed that it was one of the things being probed by the team assigned by !Oe-#Gån chief /Gaseb.Ramakhutla said there would be a community meeting on Tuesday to discuss the community’s concerns about the project.Although they will attend the meeting, both headman !Naruseb and Gariseb questioned Ramakhutla’s return to the project.”As who does he come and have meetings here? The community did not want him and that is the reason why he is no longer involved.Which community wants him back?” Gariseb asked.Ramakhutla said he left the project after three years as the community felt they were ready to run it themselves.”As things are at the moment, some people felt I must come back.There are lots of young people who left school and are lying around at farms in the area who should have been employed by the project by now,” he said.The community is utilising the tourism potential of the Spitzkoppe to earn an income.The camp is equipped with the basic facilities required by day and overnight visitors.