Henties Bay residents fed up

Alarmed Henties Bay residents have called on the urban and rural development ministry to urgently intervene in alleged irregularities within the local municipality, citing financial mismanagement, corruption and governance failures they claim have drained public funds and crippled the administration.In a letter addressed to the ministry&#039;s executive director Nghidinua Daniel, dated 21 January, and signed by &#039;concerned Henties Bay residents, the group outlined a long list of concerns, including the prolonged suspension of both the municipal CEO and the strategic executive of finance – for 16 and seven months, respectively – without disciplinary hearings, resulting in soaring legal fees of approximately N$700 000.The letter further alleges that political leaders have engaged in self-serving land transactions, acquiring fully serviced plots designated for agriculture, business and residential use at drastically reduced rates of N$5 per square metre. The municipality is also accused of allegedly bypassing procurement laws by awarding a N$40 million contract for civil and electrical services in extension 12 without the required central procurement and ministerial approvals.Allegations of corruptionAdditional allegations include councillors abusing travel and subsistence allowances by claiming mileage reimbursements despite lacking official vehicles. One councillor, previously convicted of fraud and under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission, continues to hold a leadership role, residents say in the letter. Furthermore, a junior human resources manager has, according to the letter, reportedly been appointed as acting CEO while sidelining more qualified senior staff, allegedly manipulating recruitment rules. Concerns have also been raised about councillors allegedly benefitting from study funds meant for municipal staff, while the mayor is alleged to reside outside the town’s jurisdiction in the Daures Constituency, raising questions about eligibility.Residents also claim that prime townland has been revoked and resold at significantly lower prices, resulting in substantial financial losses. One case allegedly involves a property initially sold for N$5 million being resold for just N$1.5 million, causing a N$3.5 million shortfall, residents allege. No action Additionally, the municipality is accused of failing to hold public meetings in line with the Local Authorities Act, effectively preventing residents from being informed about council dealings. Meanwhile, councillors allegedly procured seven iPhones at N$16 000 each despite already receiving cellphone allowances, directly contradicting ministerial directives.One resident told Namibian Sun last week that multiple letters requesting ministerial intervention, one dating back to October 2023 and another from January, have gone unanswered.“The first investigation was conducted by a private entity, but no action has been taken. The community raised the alarm because the situation is obvious, based on internal information. However, nothing has been done,” the resident said.Evidence presentedIn 2023, the Henties Bay municipality hired Specialised Investigation Consultant Services (SICS) to investigate strategic executive corporate services, economic development and urban management official Manhe Kruger. SICS consultant Nico Smith confirmed that he conducted the investigation and submitted a report, but no action was reportedly taken.“There is much more to the Henties Bay municipality than meets the eye. I was tasked to investigate Kruger, who frequently lodged grievances against the suspended CEO. When I completed my report, Kruger resigned before disciplinary measures could be taken. My mandate ended there,” Smith told Namibian Sun last week.Smith said he later met with minister Erastus Uutoni, deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele and Daniel, to present evidence of mismanagement and financial irregularities, including over N$400 000 spent on investigations, suspension extensions dictated by a consultant instead of legal protocols, and violations of the Local Authorities Act. Despite this, the ministry only requested a written summary of the meeting, after which no further action was taken, Smith said. Smith’s report and subsequent enquiries revealed further alleged irregularities, including councillors claiming travel allowances despite not owning vehicles, as well as manipulated land sales, with plots in the central business district acquired for as little as N$5 per square metre; a councillor obtaining a 15-hectare plot intended for low-income housing to use for aquaculture; and councillors securing study loans despite holding government jobs, to name a few.Efforts by Namibian Sun to obtain a comment from the ministry proved futile. nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

Henties Bay residents fed up

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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Henties Bay residents fed up

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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