Larandja alleges Gawanas entertained boyfriend on City credit card
Windhoek mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja has accused former mayor and fellow City councillor Sade Gawanas of misusing municipal funds, including allegedly using a mayoral credit card to entertain her boyfriend during her tenure as mayor, escalating the duo’s public feud.
In response to Gawanas’ recent allegations that Larandja presides over a toxic and divisive leadership culture, the mayor dismissed the accusations as “desperate” and politically motivated.
“This is an attack on leadership that stands for the rule of law,” Larandja said last week. “Accusations were born out of frustration when the ‘Street House’ land item was withdrawn from the agenda. One wonders why councillor Gawanas is so desperate to see this matter resolved.”
The mayor, who serves on the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) ticket, last week claimed that Gawanas, a Landless People Movement (LPM) councillor, had shown an alleged unusual interest in the controversial land deal since her tenure as mayor in 2022, speculating on potential conflicts of interest.
She further claimed Gawanas removed her as management committee chairperson through a no-confidence vote to “pave the way” for the project’s approval.
The Street House project was an affordable housing project, targeting the construction of houses in Windhoek's Rocky Crest as well as an amusement park in 2022.
The project was overseen by Gawanas during her mayoral tenure.
Governance accusations
Gawanas, in response to the mayor's allegations, told Namibian Sun this week: “The Street House project is a major development initiative that I considered a flagship project for the City. It had the potential to provide over 600 direct jobs, with additional indirect employment opportunities. My support for this initiative was grounded in the urgent need for job creation, particularly for young people in Katutura Central and across Windhoek."
Larandja also took aim at Gawanas' record in office, accusing her of questionable spending from the mayoral entertainment budget.
She alleged the mayoral credit card was used for “groceries, pizzas, and personal meals” at Gawanas’ Elisenheim residence and for hosting personal guests.
“She even boasted during a budget workshop that she ‘finished her credit card money’,” Larandja alleged. “How can she preach ethics and governance with such a dark cloud over her head?”
Gawanas defended her conduct, saying the mayoral credit card is provided for entertainment purposes under municipal policy, meaning it can be used to host official guests and stakeholders at the mayor’s discretion.
She admitted using the credit card during a trip to Khorixas, but insisted it was for humanitarian reasons.
“During an official visit to Khorixas, I [visited] a women’s project where unemployed women and men were collecting, sorting and reselling waste. They told me they were hungry and I used my entertainment card to buy dry foods, cooking oil and maize meal for them from Choppies Khorixas.
“To suggest that such a humanitarian use of the entertainment budget is misconduct is inaccurate and deliberately misleading," Gawanas said.
Gawanas denies allegations
Larandja also alleged that Gawanas travelled on official trips accompanied by her boyfriend, children and mother, turning the mayor’s office into a “baby-friendly corner” at the City’s expense.
Gawanas has forcefully rejected all of these claims, describing them as “malicious, false and unfounded”.
In a detailed rebuttal issued to Namibian Sun, she insisted that all her travel and hosting expenses complied with municipal policy.
Responding to further allegations by Larandja, Gawanas stated that a trip to Germany with her partner and child was fully funded by the German hosts, not the City of Windhoek.
"I was officially invited by the German authorities to participate in the trip in question. All travel and related expenses for myself and my caregiver were fully covered by the German hosts, not by the City of Windhoek," Gawanas said.
"At the time, my partner was the trusted person to accompany me and assist with my two-month-old baby. All official records confirm there was no financial cost to the City for my partner or child."
Gawanas accused Larandja of distorting facts to distract from her leadership failings and warned she may pursue legal action for defamation if the allegations are not withdrawn and a public apology issued.
The bitter public exchange has yet to draw an official comment from the City Council.
In response to Gawanas’ recent allegations that Larandja presides over a toxic and divisive leadership culture, the mayor dismissed the accusations as “desperate” and politically motivated.
“This is an attack on leadership that stands for the rule of law,” Larandja said last week. “Accusations were born out of frustration when the ‘Street House’ land item was withdrawn from the agenda. One wonders why councillor Gawanas is so desperate to see this matter resolved.”
The mayor, who serves on the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) ticket, last week claimed that Gawanas, a Landless People Movement (LPM) councillor, had shown an alleged unusual interest in the controversial land deal since her tenure as mayor in 2022, speculating on potential conflicts of interest.
She further claimed Gawanas removed her as management committee chairperson through a no-confidence vote to “pave the way” for the project’s approval.
The Street House project was an affordable housing project, targeting the construction of houses in Windhoek's Rocky Crest as well as an amusement park in 2022.
The project was overseen by Gawanas during her mayoral tenure.
Governance accusations
Gawanas, in response to the mayor's allegations, told Namibian Sun this week: “The Street House project is a major development initiative that I considered a flagship project for the City. It had the potential to provide over 600 direct jobs, with additional indirect employment opportunities. My support for this initiative was grounded in the urgent need for job creation, particularly for young people in Katutura Central and across Windhoek."
Larandja also took aim at Gawanas' record in office, accusing her of questionable spending from the mayoral entertainment budget.
She alleged the mayoral credit card was used for “groceries, pizzas, and personal meals” at Gawanas’ Elisenheim residence and for hosting personal guests.
“She even boasted during a budget workshop that she ‘finished her credit card money’,” Larandja alleged. “How can she preach ethics and governance with such a dark cloud over her head?”
Gawanas defended her conduct, saying the mayoral credit card is provided for entertainment purposes under municipal policy, meaning it can be used to host official guests and stakeholders at the mayor’s discretion.
She admitted using the credit card during a trip to Khorixas, but insisted it was for humanitarian reasons.
“During an official visit to Khorixas, I [visited] a women’s project where unemployed women and men were collecting, sorting and reselling waste. They told me they were hungry and I used my entertainment card to buy dry foods, cooking oil and maize meal for them from Choppies Khorixas.
“To suggest that such a humanitarian use of the entertainment budget is misconduct is inaccurate and deliberately misleading," Gawanas said.
Gawanas denies allegations
Larandja also alleged that Gawanas travelled on official trips accompanied by her boyfriend, children and mother, turning the mayor’s office into a “baby-friendly corner” at the City’s expense.
Gawanas has forcefully rejected all of these claims, describing them as “malicious, false and unfounded”.
In a detailed rebuttal issued to Namibian Sun, she insisted that all her travel and hosting expenses complied with municipal policy.
Responding to further allegations by Larandja, Gawanas stated that a trip to Germany with her partner and child was fully funded by the German hosts, not the City of Windhoek.
"I was officially invited by the German authorities to participate in the trip in question. All travel and related expenses for myself and my caregiver were fully covered by the German hosts, not by the City of Windhoek," Gawanas said.
"At the time, my partner was the trusted person to accompany me and assist with my two-month-old baby. All official records confirm there was no financial cost to the City for my partner or child."
Gawanas accused Larandja of distorting facts to distract from her leadership failings and warned she may pursue legal action for defamation if the allegations are not withdrawn and a public apology issued.
The bitter public exchange has yet to draw an official comment from the City Council.
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