Tsumeb finance manager returns from two-year suspension
Tsumeb municipality finance manager and former acting CEO Karolina Damaseb has resumed work after over two years on suspension with full pay, and despite disciplinary action against her still being underway.
She returned to work some months ago because the council reportedly decided that it was pointless to keep her on suspension while she enjoys a monthly salary and other benefits at home.
This was confirmed by Tsumeb mayor Mathew Hangula, who said council took a stand and recalled her from her suspension as she was being paid “for doing nothing”.
He added that the investigations into the allegations against Damaseb were concluded, hence it makes sense for her to resume work.
“For us, we are saying there is nothing to investigate any more and is it really financially prudent to pay someone for being at home while no one is doing her job? That is why council decided to recall her,” Hangula explained.
“Her disciplinary hearing still continues,” he added.
She said, they said
Damaseb, who was the acting CEO at the time, was suspended from the Tsumeb municipality in July 2021 after she instituted an investigation into two subordinates she reportedly wanted disciplined.
The duo retaliated with grievances against her, and Damaseb was placed on forced leave.
The employees were the town’s senior accountant John Amutenya and property officer Gerson Kautondokwa.
Damaseb wanted to investigate Amutenya and Kautondokwa following a recommendation by the auditor-general in the municipality’s 2018 audit report.
She did not implement the recommendations when she received the audit report in 2018; it was only in 2020 that she launched the investigation.
Council, however, did not approve of Damaseb’s investigation, while Amutenya and Kautondokwa’s grievances led to her suspension.
Dismissed
Meanwhile, Namibian Sun has uncovered that Amutenya was dismissed two months ago after he was found guilty based on evidence from investigations carried out against him.
Kautondokwa, however, still remains at work after he was found not guilty.
Hangula confirmed that Amutenya was dismissed, and added that the former senior accountant has appealed the decision. The issue is now in the hands of the appeal tribunal, he said.
Attempts to get comment from Amutenya proved futile as he did not respond to text messages, while his phone went unanswered.
[email protected]
She returned to work some months ago because the council reportedly decided that it was pointless to keep her on suspension while she enjoys a monthly salary and other benefits at home.
This was confirmed by Tsumeb mayor Mathew Hangula, who said council took a stand and recalled her from her suspension as she was being paid “for doing nothing”.
He added that the investigations into the allegations against Damaseb were concluded, hence it makes sense for her to resume work.
“For us, we are saying there is nothing to investigate any more and is it really financially prudent to pay someone for being at home while no one is doing her job? That is why council decided to recall her,” Hangula explained.
“Her disciplinary hearing still continues,” he added.
She said, they said
Damaseb, who was the acting CEO at the time, was suspended from the Tsumeb municipality in July 2021 after she instituted an investigation into two subordinates she reportedly wanted disciplined.
The duo retaliated with grievances against her, and Damaseb was placed on forced leave.
The employees were the town’s senior accountant John Amutenya and property officer Gerson Kautondokwa.
Damaseb wanted to investigate Amutenya and Kautondokwa following a recommendation by the auditor-general in the municipality’s 2018 audit report.
She did not implement the recommendations when she received the audit report in 2018; it was only in 2020 that she launched the investigation.
Council, however, did not approve of Damaseb’s investigation, while Amutenya and Kautondokwa’s grievances led to her suspension.
Dismissed
Meanwhile, Namibian Sun has uncovered that Amutenya was dismissed two months ago after he was found guilty based on evidence from investigations carried out against him.
Kautondokwa, however, still remains at work after he was found not guilty.
Hangula confirmed that Amutenya was dismissed, and added that the former senior accountant has appealed the decision. The issue is now in the hands of the appeal tribunal, he said.
Attempts to get comment from Amutenya proved futile as he did not respond to text messages, while his phone went unanswered.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article