Former village CEO nailed for litany of offences

A disciplinary committee has found former Maltahöhe Village Council Chief Executive Officer Eliphas Shipanga guilty of abuse of authority, the misappropriation of council funds, dishonesty and insubordination.Prior to Shipanga pleading to the charges, two others were withdrawn by the initiator Clement Daniels. It is not clear why, no ruling was made on the first charge of theft or alternative charge of misappropriation of council funds.However, the committee ruled that Shipanga is not guilty of dishonesty.It had been alleged that during 2011, he misrepresented to the owners of Pappot Hotel that he was authorised by the council to stay at the establishment. It was alleged that he had incurred this cost in the name of the council, without its approval.He had stayed at the hotel for an extended period of time, without paying the bill. The committee further ruled that it is clear that the council at no stage resolved to pay for the accommodation. Shipanga received a housing allowance of N$3 150 and thus could not expect the council to pay for the accommodation. He in fact testified that he fully expected to pay his own accommodation at Pappot.It was said in the ruling that the owners of Pappot nevertheless demanded payment from the council and their invoice to the council even referred to “instructions from the village council”.However, it was ruled that on the balance of probabilities it is very likely that that the impression that the council would pay the account was perceived by the owners of Pappot, and was created by the presence of a council member and the council’s accountant, at the time when the accommodation was arranged, in the absence of Shipanga.“Shipanga is thus acquitted on the charges,” the disciplinary committee ruled.He was further found guilty of abuse of authority, alternatively failure to comply with council rules, in that he unlawfully appointed two temporary staff members. He appointed Jenneyn Jeonette Vleermuys and Wilhemina Araeb during February 2013 and remunerated them without council approval.Shipanga was found guilty of the misappropriation of council funds, when during March 2013, he attended a Finstel training course in Tsumeb, and incurred costs in the amount of N$12 318, without council approval.The disciplinary committee ruled that the council did not discuss or approve the expenses relating to Shipanga’s attendance of the Finstel training and his argument that the chairperson of the Village Council, Simon Haikwiyu, as the political head of the council, had the authority to authorise the payment, did not hold water.“There is no doubt that Shipanga incurred these costs for the council well-knowing that the council must first approve such expenses, and well-knowing that the council did not approve such expenses. Shipanga is thus found guilty on the charge,” it was ruled.The former Maltahöhe CEO was further found guilty of dishonesty, when he during the period February and March 2013 unlawfully and without disclosing to council, approved the building of a house on council property, without following the council rules.The council engineers’ recommended a one-bedroom house on Erf 69, while property and procurement officers Jackie Boois and Sara Armandus identified two erven, namely Erf 91 and Erf 178, as possible building sites. The matter was placed on the agenda of the council meeting of 21 February 2013. However, this meeting was boycotted by the majority of the councillors. The meeting was rescheduled for 6 March 2013, but this meeting produced a vote of no confidence in Haikwiyu as the chairperson of the council.Shipanga alleged that Haikwiyu had told him to proceed with the building on Erf 91, after the failed meeting of 21 February 2013, which he then did.However, the disciplinary committee ruled that Shipanga, who confirmed himself to be well-versed with the provisions of the Local Authority Act and rules, was well-aware that such a building project could only proceed once council had so decided.“He was well-aware that the chairperson had no authority from the council to agree to the building of the house. The council had not taken any decision on the matter, yet despite this knowledge he used council funds to erect a building on council property, without council having approved the building thereof,” the disciplinary committee concluded.The committee ruled that Shipanga is thus found guilty of dishonesty, for failing to comply with council rules.FRED GOEIEMAN

Former village CEO nailed for litany of offences

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-06-24

Please login to leave a comment

Former village CEO nailed for litany of offences

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-06-24

Please login to leave a comment

Login