Omusati to reinstate suspended officials

The Omusati Regional Council's management committee has passed a resolution to reinstate suspended top officials, even though the outcome of the investigation is not yet known, Namibian Sun was reliably informed.

The allegation has been confirmed by suspended chief regional officer Protasius Andowa, who told Namibian Sun that he had received calls from members of the management committee who had attended the meeting, congratulating him.

However, the chairperson of the management committee, Modestus Amutse, refused to comment, saying there were issues he needed to sort out regarding the matter.

Andowa and the council's deputy director for finance, Elizabeth Mutota, were suspended in August last year.

The suspension was endorsed by the Public Service Commission two months after the council presented the basis for the suspensions to the commission.

The council launched the investigation and the urban and rural development ministry assigned a team of investigators headed by the ministry's chief auditor.

Amutse said investigations were completed last November, but the findings were not announced until today.

Andowa said he had not received any official communication from the council, but officials from the constituency offices were already contacting him making inquiries about official matters.

He said he was also informed that Gervasius Kashindi, who had been acting in his capacity, had handed over the office to council.

“I have not received any official communication yet, but I was informed by council employees and members of the management committee who attended last week's management meeting that it was announced that we are going back to our offices. I am also informed that the one who was acting has handed the office back to the council,” Andowa said.

Amutse also said the issue was not yet clear and he would not want to give inaccurate information to the public.

“I cannot comment because this issue is not yet clear to me. Therefore, I still have to make a follow up before I make any comment on the matter. I don't want to give the public information that is not even clear to me,” Amutse said.

Andowa told Namibian Sun that they were not issued with charge sheets when they were suspended. He further said if the council called him back he would go back.

“Since they gave us letters of suspension they never communicated with us until today. I cannot tell what I am going to do, but once I get back into the office I will see what I can do,” he said.

Both Andowa and Mutota were suspended with full salaries and benefits.

ILENI NANDJATO