Alan not aware of Windhoek loss
The Association for Local Authorities (Alan) says its 57 members will be provided with an audited financial report at its annual general meeting this October and that the voluntary body is unaware of Windhoek's decision to resign.
In a response provided to Namibian Sun yesterday morning, Alan president Katrina Shimbulu said the association had not yet “received a communication in writing from the City of Windhoek on the decision taken at council regarding Alan”.
She said the association was not aware of the decision at all.
Her comments came in the wake of Namibian Sun reporting that the Windhoek municipality, one of Alan's highest-paying members, had resolved to resign from the association instead of renewing its annual N$150 000 membership fee.
The resolution, taken behind closed doors at its monthly council meeting last week, stated the municipality would “resign from Alan until they put their house in order and provide the necessary financial reports as requested, upon which council will re-join.”
The council documents, seen by Namibian Sun, underlined the municipality had “on several occasions” requested Alan to provide its activity and financial reports but that the “association has failed to submit any reports for the past years”.
“It is important and critical when it comes to financial matters that as Alan we have with no doubt presented audited financial statements to the members during the annual general meetings,” Shimbulu told Namibian Sun. She added that the last AGM took place at Walvis Bay in October last year. She further said Alan had, “as per our statutory compliance … been submitting financial audited reports and we will continue to do so in light of good governance.”
She said the next report was due to be submitted to members at the next annual meeting in October. Shimbulu also informed Namibian Sun that she wanted to put it on record that “since the last elective congress Alan has provided audited financial report (sic) to be precise on five to eight July 2016.”
She said that report was submitted to the Alan congress and approved. She invited the media to visit the Alan offices to inspect the report.
Paid membership
She confirmed the association currently has 57 local authority members and that the annual membership fees vary. She said the last Alan congress passed a resolution that some fees range between N$100 000 and N$150 000 for an annual membership, the category in which the City of Windhoek falls.
The second fee category is N$50 000, while town councils pay N$30 000 and village councils are invoiced N$10 000 per year.
“It is important to note that membership fees are not approved by Alan board or the Alan executive committee. It is a congress resolution that all local authorities have to pay membership fees to Alan,” she said.
In a February 2019 letter addressed to Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua, Shimbulu had said Alan would provide the requested reports once available.
By late July the reports were still pending, as per council documents.
Shimbulu said the voluntary association, which is not an official government institution, provides a number of services to members.
She said Alan acts as a liaison between central government and all local authorities on a number of issues, helps promote and market its members.
[email protected]
JANA-MARI SMITH
In a response provided to Namibian Sun yesterday morning, Alan president Katrina Shimbulu said the association had not yet “received a communication in writing from the City of Windhoek on the decision taken at council regarding Alan”.
She said the association was not aware of the decision at all.
Her comments came in the wake of Namibian Sun reporting that the Windhoek municipality, one of Alan's highest-paying members, had resolved to resign from the association instead of renewing its annual N$150 000 membership fee.
The resolution, taken behind closed doors at its monthly council meeting last week, stated the municipality would “resign from Alan until they put their house in order and provide the necessary financial reports as requested, upon which council will re-join.”
The council documents, seen by Namibian Sun, underlined the municipality had “on several occasions” requested Alan to provide its activity and financial reports but that the “association has failed to submit any reports for the past years”.
“It is important and critical when it comes to financial matters that as Alan we have with no doubt presented audited financial statements to the members during the annual general meetings,” Shimbulu told Namibian Sun. She added that the last AGM took place at Walvis Bay in October last year. She further said Alan had, “as per our statutory compliance … been submitting financial audited reports and we will continue to do so in light of good governance.”
She said the next report was due to be submitted to members at the next annual meeting in October. Shimbulu also informed Namibian Sun that she wanted to put it on record that “since the last elective congress Alan has provided audited financial report (sic) to be precise on five to eight July 2016.”
She said that report was submitted to the Alan congress and approved. She invited the media to visit the Alan offices to inspect the report.
Paid membership
She confirmed the association currently has 57 local authority members and that the annual membership fees vary. She said the last Alan congress passed a resolution that some fees range between N$100 000 and N$150 000 for an annual membership, the category in which the City of Windhoek falls.
The second fee category is N$50 000, while town councils pay N$30 000 and village councils are invoiced N$10 000 per year.
“It is important to note that membership fees are not approved by Alan board or the Alan executive committee. It is a congress resolution that all local authorities have to pay membership fees to Alan,” she said.
In a February 2019 letter addressed to Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua, Shimbulu had said Alan would provide the requested reports once available.
By late July the reports were still pending, as per council documents.
Shimbulu said the voluntary association, which is not an official government institution, provides a number of services to members.
She said Alan acts as a liaison between central government and all local authorities on a number of issues, helps promote and market its members.
[email protected]
JANA-MARI SMITH
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