Usakos residents throw down gauntlet on corruption claims

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba himself will be asked to deal with the “dirty laundry” of the Usakos Municipality if demands by residents continue to be ignored.

Chairman of the Usakos Residents’ Association (URA), Johannes Gaseb, claims there is self-enrichment within the Municipality at the expense of residents, despite the allegations being reported to the line Ministry, Erongo Regional Governor, Ombudsman and the Anti-Corruption Commission. A URA petition to the Town Council received no reply, he said.”We are acting on the call of the President to root out corruption,” Gaseb told The Namibian, “but now we want to know what the Government is doing about it.”The ongoing feud between the Town Council and URA gained new momentum after it came to light that in 2004 the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development allocated N$500 000 specifically for upgrading the informal settlement area.According to Gaseb, the money was not used for the intended purpose.The approximately 1 500 residents of the Saamstaan and Ongulumbashe informal settlements still have to make do with two toilets and one water point, said Gaseb.In the report of an audit conducted by the Ministry in October 2005, Council was asked to explain how the N$500 000 was spent.According to Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga, his office has not received the breakdown of expenses yet.The audit included a special investigation into allegations of mismanagement by former CEO Harry Gonteb.According to the findings, Gonteb had taken salary advances of N$46 317 between March and July 2005.The amount was not fully paid back by the time Gonteb resigned.According to Negonga, his office had not received any proof so far that the amount has been repaid.Gonteb also had to repay the Municipality for, among other things, duplicated travel allowances and increased housing and vehicle allowances on which he did not pay tax.Negonga wanted an explanation why Gonteb received a net salary that was higher than the gross salary indicated in his appointment letter.He received this salary in March 2005 while he only assumed his position in April 2005.Salary advances to municipal staff and councillors, excluding that of Gonteb, amounted to more than N$17 000 for the financial year.In most cases these advances were more than the employee’s monthly salary and was repaid in instalments.In many cases the Municipality issued cheques without supporting documents.The audit team also found that payments were made on invoices that were altered in blue ink.”Failure to have clear explanations will leave me with no option but to recommend for criminal charges to be instituted against those involved,” Negonga warned in the report.Residents want answers about these discrepancies and others, or will otherwise approach the President himself, said Gaseb.”You owe us answers to the petition that was forwarded to the Mayor in April,” Gaseb said in an open letter to the Council.”You are not exempt from criticism.You should bear in mind that the elections are around the corner.”In April, the residents’ association and Town Council were at loggerheads over the sale of the Community Hall and plot for N$35 000 though it was officially valued at N$136 000.Negonga advised Council at the time to sell erven on public auction or tender to attract public interest.He stressed that the sale was subject to the Local Authorities Act and that an official Council Resolution should accompany their request to sell the property.Negonga told The Namibian yesterday that procedures were not followed, but said that the Ministry had no authority to reverse a council decision.These claims, as well as allegations of nepotism, favouritism and mismanagement, will be included in an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission for which a date will soon be set, ACC Director Paulus Noa told The Namibian.Mayor Elmer Eiseb and the town’s acting CEO, Manfred Weskop, were not available for comment.A URA petition to the Town Council received no reply, he said.”We are acting on the call of the President to root out corruption,” Gaseb told The Namibian, “but now we want to know what the Government is doing about it.”The ongoing feud between the Town Council and URA gained new momentum after it came to light that in 2004 the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development allocated N$500 000 specifically for upgrading the informal settlement area.According to Gaseb, the money was not used for the intended purpose.The approximately 1 500 residents of the Saamstaan and Ongulumbashe informal settlements still have to make do with two toilets and one water point, said Gaseb.In the report of an audit conducted by the Ministry in October 2005, Council was asked to explain how the N$500 000 was spent.According to Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga, his office has not received the breakdown of expenses yet.The audit included a special investigation into allegations of mismanagement by former CEO Harry Gonteb.According to the findings, Gonteb had taken salary advances of N$46 317 between March and July 2005.The amount was not fully paid back by the time Gonteb resigned.According to Negonga, his office had not received any proof so far that the amount has been repaid.Gonteb also had to repay the Municipality for, among other things, duplicated travel allowances and increased housing and vehicle allowances on which he did not pay tax.Negonga wanted an explanation why Gonteb received a net salary that was higher than the gross salary indicated in his appointment letter.He received this salary in March 2005 while he only assumed his position in April 2005.Salary advances to municipal staff and councillors, excluding that of Gonteb, amounted to more than N$17 000 for the financial year.In most cases these advances were more than the employee’s monthly salary and was repaid in instalments.In many cases the Municipality issued cheques without supporting documents.The audit team also found that payments were made on invoices that were altered in blue ink.”Failure to have clear explanations will leave me with no option but to recommend for criminal charges to be instituted against those involved,” Negonga warned in the report.Residents want answers about these discrepancies and others, or will otherwise approach the President himself, said Gaseb.”You owe us answers to the petition that was forwarded to the Mayor in April,” Gaseb said in an open letter to the Council.”You are not exempt from criticism.You should bear in mind that the elections are around the corner.”In April, the residents’ association and Town Council were at loggerheads over the sale of the Community Hall and plot for N$35 000 though it was officially valued at N$136 000.Negonga advised Council at the time to sell erven on public auction or tender to attract public interest.He stressed that the sale was subject to the Local Authorities Act and that an official Council Resolution should accompany their request to sell the property.Negonga told The Namibian yesterday that procedures were not followed, but said that the Ministry had no authority to reverse a council decision.These claims, as well as allegations of nepotism, favouritism and mismanagement, will be included in an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission for which a date will soon be set, ACC Director Paulus Noa told The Namibian.Mayor Elmer Eiseb and the town’s acting CEO, Manfred Weskop, were not available for comment.