Katutura activist demands answers
Councillor accused of playing hide and seek
Katjaimo has refuted the allegations, saying his work speaks for itself.
A social activist from the Katutura central constituency, Shaun Gariseb, has vented his frustration at what he says is a lack of accountability on the part of constituency councillor Rodman Katjaimo.
Gariseb also accused Katjaimo of failing to account for more than N$750 000 of public funds since he was voted into power, an allegation Katjaimo refuted.
The activist claimed that the councillor has refused to account for how the constituency office’s funds are used. He warned that if his demands are not met, “I will explore other avenues to obtain this public information.”
Gariseb said: “Your philanthropy of buying combos and painting people's houses is well documented on your social media platforms. That is very noble, but I am interested in how the office has empowered constituents and what the challenges are."
Response given
Katjaimo, speaking to this publication yesterday, said the projects he decided to spend the money on, which include installing Wi-Fi at a school and buying computers for a library, were endorsed by the Khomas Regional Council.
“Shaun [Gariseb] does not know what he is talking about. He is just making baseless political statements in an abortive attempt to campaign. He is supposed to know where to get that information from. I do not run the constituency like that; we run it through Khomas Regional Council and if he wants to get the report, he knows where to go. These guys are fighting political battles and when he is writing those letters, it is just rubbish,” he said.
Katjaimo said he should be allowed to serve the community, adding that his work speaks for itself.
Claims made
Gariseb, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Katutura Residents Committee, approached Namibian Sun, claiming Katjaimo would not respond to him, and that he has been unable to “disclose the public information [reports] since 2019”.
According to Gariseb, the councillor’s office is awarded an income grant of N$150 000 annually from the Khomas Regional Council, which should be awarded to 10 individuals for development programme tenders.
He added that Katjaimo has not been able to explain why he chose to pursue projects that are already provided for under the ministry of education instead of putting the funds into struggling small enterprises.
“[Katjaimo] said he would not respond to me because I am an activist. He should know that, if need be, I will engage true activist lawyers to compel [him] in court to produce reports. It appears only to benefit the selected few. They [constituents] would like to know the criteria for participation so that they can also benefit,” he noted.
Gariseb also accused Katjaimo of failing to account for more than N$750 000 of public funds since he was voted into power, an allegation Katjaimo refuted.
The activist claimed that the councillor has refused to account for how the constituency office’s funds are used. He warned that if his demands are not met, “I will explore other avenues to obtain this public information.”
Gariseb said: “Your philanthropy of buying combos and painting people's houses is well documented on your social media platforms. That is very noble, but I am interested in how the office has empowered constituents and what the challenges are."
Response given
Katjaimo, speaking to this publication yesterday, said the projects he decided to spend the money on, which include installing Wi-Fi at a school and buying computers for a library, were endorsed by the Khomas Regional Council.
“Shaun [Gariseb] does not know what he is talking about. He is just making baseless political statements in an abortive attempt to campaign. He is supposed to know where to get that information from. I do not run the constituency like that; we run it through Khomas Regional Council and if he wants to get the report, he knows where to go. These guys are fighting political battles and when he is writing those letters, it is just rubbish,” he said.
Katjaimo said he should be allowed to serve the community, adding that his work speaks for itself.
Claims made
Gariseb, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Katutura Residents Committee, approached Namibian Sun, claiming Katjaimo would not respond to him, and that he has been unable to “disclose the public information [reports] since 2019”.
According to Gariseb, the councillor’s office is awarded an income grant of N$150 000 annually from the Khomas Regional Council, which should be awarded to 10 individuals for development programme tenders.
He added that Katjaimo has not been able to explain why he chose to pursue projects that are already provided for under the ministry of education instead of putting the funds into struggling small enterprises.
“[Katjaimo] said he would not respond to me because I am an activist. He should know that, if need be, I will engage true activist lawyers to compel [him] in court to produce reports. It appears only to benefit the selected few. They [constituents] would like to know the criteria for participation so that they can also benefit,” he noted.
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