Two municipalities set payment record straight

THE municipalities of Ondangwa and Oshakati say the Auditor General’s office was wrong when it claimed they had not paid for the annual audits completed by the Office for the financial year that ended in March 2005.

The Namibian published an article on Thursday about audit reports completed for Government institutions and local authorities. In his report, Auditor General Junias Kandjeke said several local authorities still had not paid for their audit reports, including Oshakati and Ondangwa.The chief executive officers of both municipalities immediately responded to the article.John Nghihepa, CEO of the Oshakati municipality, informed The Namibian that a cheque for N$4 281,47 was mailed to the AG’s office on January 27 2005.”The cheque got lost, we reported the matter to our bank and we issued another cheque on July 8 2005, which did reach the office of the AG,” Nghihepa said.”So, we have paid and the AG’s office should have noted that,” Nghihepa said.However, the payment could not be included in the AG’s report, because it only reached that office in July 2005 and the report just recorded payments up to March 31 2005.Ironically, the first cheque issued in January 2005 finally found its way back to the offices of the Oshakati municipality – 12 months later.The CEO of the Ondangwa municipality, Paulus Ndjodhi, sent The Namibian proof of the payment of N$39 575,40 to the AG’s office for the 2005 audit.The payment was made on March 16 2005.”It is with great disappointment that the Ondangwa Town Council wants to bring to your attention the correct facts concerning the stated amount allegedly still outstanding to the Auditor General’s office,” Ndjodhi wrote.”The amount was paid with Cheque No 7196 on March 16 2005.Let me advise the auditors from the AG’s office to make sure of their facts before they are published in the national newspapers, as this gives a picture of incompetence and negligence on the side of your clients,” he wrote.The Namibian was unable to obtain comment from the AG’s office on the matter.In his report, Auditor General Junias Kandjeke said several local authorities still had not paid for their audit reports, including Oshakati and Ondangwa.The chief executive officers of both municipalities immediately responded to the article.John Nghihepa, CEO of the Oshakati municipality, informed The Namibian that a cheque for N$4 281,47 was mailed to the AG’s office on January 27 2005.”The cheque got lost, we reported the matter to our bank and we issued another cheque on July 8 2005, which did reach the office of the AG,” Nghihepa said.”So, we have paid and the AG’s office should have noted that,” Nghihepa said.However, the payment could not be included in the AG’s report, because it only reached that office in July 2005 and the report just recorded payments up to March 31 2005.Ironically, the first cheque issued in January 2005 finally found its way back to the offices of the Oshakati municipality – 12 months later.The CEO of the Ondangwa municipality, Paulus Ndjodhi, sent The Namibian proof of the payment of N$39 575,40 to the AG’s office for the 2005 audit.The payment was made on March 16 2005.”It is with great disappointment that the Ondangwa Town Council wants to bring to your attention the correct facts concerning the stated amount allegedly still outstanding to the Auditor General’s office,” Ndjodhi wrote.”The amount was paid with Cheque No 7196 on March 16 2005.Let me advise the auditors from the AG’s office to make sure of their facts before they are published in the national newspapers, as this gives a picture of incompetence and negligence on the side of your clients,” he wrote.The Namibian was unable to obtain comment from the AG’s office on the matter.