Politicians leech off Recon’s N$7m car scheme

Deputy minister of trade Verna Sinimbo and Rundu Urban constituency councillor Victoria Kauma, who is also the deputy chairperson of the National Council, are among politicians and influential people in the Kavango regions said to be benefitting - directly and indirectly - from millions spent by ReconAfrica on cars for the company&#039;s operations.An investigation by Namibian Sun into the scheme showed politicians in the two Kavango regions are among those renting out their vehicles to the Canadian oil and gas exploration company.The company has spent over N$7 million on renting cars for its operations in the two regions since 2020, its spokesperson confirmed.ReconAfrica pays N$1 500 a day for the usage of a vehicle, predominantly 4x4s.Namibian Sun has established that, as part of empowering communities in which it operates, the company decided to – instead of renting cars from car rental companies from areas such as Windhoek – call on interested parties to register their vehicles for its use. This scheme is also cheaper than renting vehicles from mainstream rental businesses.State revenue lossWhile car rental businesses pay tax to the state, owners of private cars - which are not registered for commercial use – do not pay such taxes.However, it has been unearthed that while ReconAfrica has done this in good faith to support locals in the impoverished Kavango regions, politicians have jumped on the bandwagon out of greed.Civil servants, some of them school principals, are said to have resigned temporarily from their work in order to access their pensions to buy vehicles ReconAfrica can hire from them.They then return to the education fraternity after they ‘secured the bag’, it is reported.Many locals are unhappy with the developments, saying those with power and influence are using their positions to benefit from the scheme.With ReconAfrica facing sporadic opposition from certain quarters because of the perceived environmental risk to its operations, aligning itself with powerful politicians in the region is perceived as the company&#039;s way to get into leaders’ good books.‘I want my money’Meanwhile, Namibian Sun has established Kauma is currently at loggerheads with the oil and gas company over an unpaid bill of over N$30 000 for the usage of her black Toyota Fortuner.It has been a four-month wait for the councillor as ReconAfrica is yet to cough up.It is understood the company has delayed payment on the basis that her car was in the pool while not on the company’s database.ReconAfrica is apparently holding onto the monies until all queries on how the car was entered into the pool without following the right procedures are answered.Kauma told Namibian Sun she didn&#039;t apply to have her car registered to the company’s system, but said she was approached by ReconAfrica employees who learnt that she drives a luxury car.“I never applied to have my car registered. It was them who came to me wanting to use my car and they came to get it,” she said.“Now they don’t want to pay after they used my car. I want my money, please ask them. That is my private car which I bought with my own money, so they must pay me,” she said.The councillor even threatened legal action if she does not get what is due to her.Not mineSinimbo denied that a white double cab Toyota Land Cruiser recently used by one of ReconAfrica’s senior managers at an event in Rundu Rural constituency’s Ngone village was hers.She, however, conceded that her daughter is the owner of the vehicle, but denied that it was leased to ReconAfrica.“Tell them my car is parked at home. I did not benefit from ReconAfrica. I don’t know anyone at ReconAfrica and I don’t even want to know.“I have nothing to influence on. No vehicle of mine is being used by ReconAfrica,” she said.ReconAfrica respondsThe company refused to answer to allegations that politicians have it easy to get their cars into the scheme.According to spokesperson Ndapewoshali Shapwanale, ReconAfrica has thus far rented 90 vehicles and spent over N$5 million on car rentals for the first and second phases of its 2D seismic campaign.“For other project activities including community engagement activities, the company contributed N$2.2 million to local content through the renting of vehicles from the people of the Kavango East and Kavango West regions” between January and September, she said.kenya@namibiansun.com

Politicians leech off Recon’s N$7m car scheme

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Hophni Hamufungu 2 Year Ago 05 October 2022

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Politicians leech off Recon’s N$7m car scheme

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Hophni Hamufungu 2 Year Ago 05 October 2022

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