Resignee CRO pursued over N$7m
A government investigation has recommended that Omaheke’s chief regional officer, who quit her job as amid a storm of corruption allegations, be personally held accountable.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
The chief regional officer of the Omaheke regional council Maria Vaendwanawa resigned last month in the midst of discussions to lay charges against her for alleged tender irregularities to the tune of N$7 million.
Her last working day was last Friday.
When approached for comment, Vaendwanawa yesterday said she “will not talk to a newspaper” and immediately cut the phone call.
There are claims that she jumped ship before any disciplinary action was instituted against her.
The allegations against her are contained in a briefing submission made to the reginal council’s management committee on 10 November 2020 on the outcome of a special investigation report by the ministry of urban and rural development that was concluded in March 2020.
According to the submission, Vaendwanawa must be held accountable for unauthorised expenditure to the tune of N$7.3 million.
No protocol followed
She allegedly authorised seven variation orders amounting to N$2.8 million, which were more than 15% of the contract value without following public procurement procedures.
The former CRO is also accused of approving a variation order in the amount of N$2.1 million for the construction of a gravel road and fence relocation without following the tender procedures.
Another allegation is that she failed to account for N$2.4 million that was saved after council scaled down the construction of 320 toilets to 243.
There are also findings that she awarded a contract of the financial accounting system to Integrated Global Business Solution (IGBS) without following the regional tender board procedures.
IGBS was contracted as a consultant to help restore professionalism as well to establish a culture of good accounting practices at the regional council.
According to the submission, the appointment letter could not be provided to the audit team despite repeated requests to the finance department and IGBS.
IGBS was allegedly also overpaid an amount of N$3.4 million.
Cattle business
The investigation further found that council does not keep a collection register to record bids submitted during procurement processes.
It found that the council resolution for procuring livestock as well as the amended bid advertisement was not submitted to the team for verification.
Therefore, it was recommended that Vaendwanawa must be held accountable for awarding the bid.
The programme to procure livestock (210 ewes, 15 rams, 28 heifers, three bulls and eight dairy cows) for poor farmers in the region landed Vaendwanawa in hot water after she allegedly awarded a tender to a company called Omaka Trading CC in July 2018.
The company was awarded the tender despite not being the cheapest and despite it having exceeded the authorised budget of N$ 642 961.54 by a whopping N$290 000.
Still consulting
Two more meetings have taken place since the November 2020 meeting, with the hands of the council seemingly tied after Vaendwanawa resigned.
Ignatius Kariseb, the chairperson of the council, yesterday said they have deliberated on the recommendations made a week ago and decided that more consultations were needed on the way forward, especially in light of Vaendwanawa’s departure.
“We are still consulting on how to go about it. I do not want to comment on things prematurely. Wait until we have everything in place and we are done with the consideration of the report, then you can call me. As councillors, we still need to sit on this thing,” he said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
The chief regional officer of the Omaheke regional council Maria Vaendwanawa resigned last month in the midst of discussions to lay charges against her for alleged tender irregularities to the tune of N$7 million.
Her last working day was last Friday.
When approached for comment, Vaendwanawa yesterday said she “will not talk to a newspaper” and immediately cut the phone call.
There are claims that she jumped ship before any disciplinary action was instituted against her.
The allegations against her are contained in a briefing submission made to the reginal council’s management committee on 10 November 2020 on the outcome of a special investigation report by the ministry of urban and rural development that was concluded in March 2020.
According to the submission, Vaendwanawa must be held accountable for unauthorised expenditure to the tune of N$7.3 million.
No protocol followed
She allegedly authorised seven variation orders amounting to N$2.8 million, which were more than 15% of the contract value without following public procurement procedures.
The former CRO is also accused of approving a variation order in the amount of N$2.1 million for the construction of a gravel road and fence relocation without following the tender procedures.
Another allegation is that she failed to account for N$2.4 million that was saved after council scaled down the construction of 320 toilets to 243.
There are also findings that she awarded a contract of the financial accounting system to Integrated Global Business Solution (IGBS) without following the regional tender board procedures.
IGBS was contracted as a consultant to help restore professionalism as well to establish a culture of good accounting practices at the regional council.
According to the submission, the appointment letter could not be provided to the audit team despite repeated requests to the finance department and IGBS.
IGBS was allegedly also overpaid an amount of N$3.4 million.
Cattle business
The investigation further found that council does not keep a collection register to record bids submitted during procurement processes.
It found that the council resolution for procuring livestock as well as the amended bid advertisement was not submitted to the team for verification.
Therefore, it was recommended that Vaendwanawa must be held accountable for awarding the bid.
The programme to procure livestock (210 ewes, 15 rams, 28 heifers, three bulls and eight dairy cows) for poor farmers in the region landed Vaendwanawa in hot water after she allegedly awarded a tender to a company called Omaka Trading CC in July 2018.
The company was awarded the tender despite not being the cheapest and despite it having exceeded the authorised budget of N$ 642 961.54 by a whopping N$290 000.
Still consulting
Two more meetings have taken place since the November 2020 meeting, with the hands of the council seemingly tied after Vaendwanawa resigned.
Ignatius Kariseb, the chairperson of the council, yesterday said they have deliberated on the recommendations made a week ago and decided that more consultations were needed on the way forward, especially in light of Vaendwanawa’s departure.
“We are still consulting on how to go about it. I do not want to comment on things prematurely. Wait until we have everything in place and we are done with the consideration of the report, then you can call me. As councillors, we still need to sit on this thing,” he said.
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