LPM blames Mayumbelo for Gawanas’ double benefits
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) is blaming City of Windhoek head of human resources George Mayumbelo for the fact that mayor Sade Gawanas, a deployee of the party, has allegedly received N$57 000 in transport allowance - despite using the municipality’s vehicles for private and official duties.
According to policy, the mayor may only choose one of the two benefits - a transport allowance or a municipal vehicle - but New Era reported yesterday that Gawanas has been benefitting from both since ascending to mayorship last December.
Her predecessor, Job Amupanda, is said to have opted for transport allowance during his reign.
LPM has insulated Gawanas of any blame, insisting instead that this is a matter the City has failed to deal with.
The mayor has reportedly been using three vehicles belonging to the City of Windhoek for her official and private use, as well as having the courtesy of an assigned driver while earning a N$9 500 transport allowance at the same time.
She has reportedly earned N$57 000 in transport benefits alone this year. Using the City’s vehicles while receiving a transport allowance is in contravention of its councillor benefits policy.
Hitting back at the claims, LPM spokesperson Eneas Emvula said the matter had been blown out of proportion.
“As a political party and part of the City of Windhoek council, we find this media-marinated issue, dubbed ‘double dipping’, blown out of proportion and placed into an external environment at the wrong time and for a motive that is dead in its tracks,” he said.
Matter not dealt with
According to him, the matter had not been dealt with correctly internally by Mayumbelo, who in January informed Gawanas about the benefits she was entitled to.
According to Emvula: “It is an issue that the respective strategic executive seemingly failed to deal with and direct to the administrative superior.”
He added that Mayumbelo either misinterpreted the matter, or felt the need to instigate the City and the general public against the mayor “without exhausting internal communications and consultation processes”.
“Any flaw in the implementation process of an institutional policy represents a high level of incompetence of a head of administration in such an institution,” he added.
The matter was also being discussed internally at the City and is due to be finalised this month, Emvula said.
According to policy, the mayor may only choose one of the two benefits - a transport allowance or a municipal vehicle - but New Era reported yesterday that Gawanas has been benefitting from both since ascending to mayorship last December.
Her predecessor, Job Amupanda, is said to have opted for transport allowance during his reign.
LPM has insulated Gawanas of any blame, insisting instead that this is a matter the City has failed to deal with.
The mayor has reportedly been using three vehicles belonging to the City of Windhoek for her official and private use, as well as having the courtesy of an assigned driver while earning a N$9 500 transport allowance at the same time.
She has reportedly earned N$57 000 in transport benefits alone this year. Using the City’s vehicles while receiving a transport allowance is in contravention of its councillor benefits policy.
Hitting back at the claims, LPM spokesperson Eneas Emvula said the matter had been blown out of proportion.
“As a political party and part of the City of Windhoek council, we find this media-marinated issue, dubbed ‘double dipping’, blown out of proportion and placed into an external environment at the wrong time and for a motive that is dead in its tracks,” he said.
Matter not dealt with
According to him, the matter had not been dealt with correctly internally by Mayumbelo, who in January informed Gawanas about the benefits she was entitled to.
According to Emvula: “It is an issue that the respective strategic executive seemingly failed to deal with and direct to the administrative superior.”
He added that Mayumbelo either misinterpreted the matter, or felt the need to instigate the City and the general public against the mayor “without exhausting internal communications and consultation processes”.
“Any flaw in the implementation process of an institutional policy represents a high level of incompetence of a head of administration in such an institution,” he added.
The matter was also being discussed internally at the City and is due to be finalised this month, Emvula said.
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