New twist in Kahimise study loan drama

A study loan that forms the basis of an alleged politically motivated attempt to suspend Windhoek CEO Robert Kahimise was approved by the human resources department and management committee (MC) chairperson Matheus Amadhila.In an internal MC memorandum, dated 3 October and signed by Amadhila, he admits that he approved the loan as chairperson without the input of the entire MC.Namibian Sun last week reported that councillors were questioning the motive of the alleged move to suspend Kahimise on the basis of the loan approval. They said the error could easily have been fixed with a retroactive approval, as had been done on several other occasions. This time, some believe, the alleged not infrequent administrative blunder is being used to get rid of Kahimise because of infighting among councillors. In his letter, Amadhila writes that while he regrets approving the loan without the input of his MC colleagues, his decision was motivated by the fact that Kahimise's management studies would benefit the City of Windhoek's operations. “This was a genuine oversight on my part and I had no intention of undermining the authority of the management committee or my colleagues of the management committee as a whole. This study has strategic relevance to the authority and falls within the purpose and relevance of the challenges we face in terms of funding, as you may be aware.”Amadhila's letter concludes with a plea to the members of the management committee to “condone this approval of the private study aid to the chief executive officer … for the reasons stated.”Further documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Kahimise in February applied for a close to N$150 000 loan, noting that his studies would look at the “complexity of challenges facing the City of Windhoek”, and in particular at devising a sustainable funding model for the city. Apart from being approved by Amadhila, the loan was also approved by Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua and the human resources department, documents show. Squabbling councillorsThe infighting at the City of Windhoek was revealed last week after an open letter addressed to urban development minister Peya Mushelenga in which city councillors Brunhilde Cornelius (RDP), Josef Kauandenge (Nudo) and Ignatius Semba (PDM) wrote that during a closed-door meeting attended by some MC members, but not by Amadhila or the mayor, the suspension was proposed on the grounds of the alleged irregular approval of the study loan. The three councillors argued that those gunning for the CEO were disgruntled because of Kahimise's successful efforts to bring the city's unruly house, and spending, in order. Kauandenge said he was optimistic about a reported meeting between the Swapo MC members and Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa yesterday.A good deed or not?In a public statement issued yesterday, Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua publicly admitted that a fraud allegation against the city's legal adviser, Benedictus Ngairorue, was the result of his direct intervention on behalf of an elderly citizen in 2013. Ngairorue, who was debt manager in 2013, was accused of tampering with documents linked to outstanding debts of the late Frieda Kahaanga, a war veteran who owed the municipality about N$54 000.Kazapua yesterday confirmed that after Kahaanga approached him in tears in 2013, informing him that her property had been foreclosed, he gave instructions to Ngairorue “to rectify the situation and accordingly to collect the debt as required”.He said the matter was reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission and the office of the prosecutor-general decided to prosecute Ngairorue.Kazapua admitted he wrote to the prosecutor-general's office “to reconsider her decision” on the advice that she could retract the decision to prosecute. “It was on that moral basis that I approached the office. This decision was taken in consultation with the Swapo Khomas Regional Office.”Kazapua said in an affidavit that the manager in question “acted in accordance with my directives and that I was duty bound to act as a leader and would not allow a vulnerable elder to lose her property.”Several attempts were made yesterday to obtain comment from Swapo councillor Moses Shiikwa, who had publicly objected to the suspension of City Police chief Abraham Kanime, as well as Kahimise and Amadhila, but none could be reached.JANA-MARI SMITH

New twist in Kahimise study loan drama

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Namibian Sun 2024-12-26

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New twist in Kahimise study loan drama

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Namibian Sun 2024-12-26

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