AG flags Ohangwena council over non-compliant ponds and dumps

The Ohangwena Regional Council operated oxidation ponds and settlement-area dumpsites without environmental clearance certificates between 2019/20 and 2021/22, an auditor general’s report has found.

Reports show that Eenhana Town Council has long identified the need for additional wastewater treatment capacity.

A N$13 million oxidation pond was built in 2018, funded through a trust fund and resources from the regional council. Plans are also under way for a N$100 million sewage treatment plant, with funding discussions ongoing.

The AG’s audit found that the Ongha oxidation pond is in a dilapidated state, with badly damaged fencing and located close to residential areas.

All three settlement-area dumpsites inspected were unfenced, allowing residents to dump waste around the sites. The report says the council is operating these sanitation facilities without meeting environmental compliance requirements.

Unverified spending

Financial management concerns have further complicated the council’s operations. Supporting documents for work in progress worth over N$11 million and for property, plant and equipment additions of N$5.8 million and N$199 889 in 2020 were not provided for audit, preventing verification of the spending.

The report also noted discrepancies in value-added tax receivables of N$1 110 745 for the 2020 financial year.

Auditors were unable to verify the council’s 15-share investment in RCEC Pty Ltd, as no audited financial statements were provided. They could not confirm the investment’s classification, valuation or accuracy.

Budget execution for key programmes was inconsistent over the three years under review.

Uneven spending

Several capital projects, including rural development centres, basic sanitation and food-for-work initiatives, received less funding than allocated or faced delays in disbursements from central government. In some cases, no funds were received, forcing the council to rely on balances carried over from previous financial years.

Spending on salaries and related costs fell below budget because several posts remained vacant. At the same time, other expense items – including travel, materials and maintenance – were either over-allocated or spent late.

Council officials said unpaid water bills from residents and businesses, totalling N$29 million, have constrained service delivery and payments to bulk suppliers. The town’s 2021/22 budget was cut to N$82.7 million from N$92.1 million the previous year, reflecting continued financial pressure.

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