Africa-Press – Namibia. ONDANGWA mayor Paavo Amwele yesterday confirmed that three officials of the Ondangwa Town Council were suspended recently, following allegations of selling residential plots meant for low-income earners.
The mayor said one of the officials is from the planning department which administers the allocation of land at the town.
The other two employees are from other departments at the council.
Amwele said the officials would ask those in the process of being allocated residential plots to pay them certain amounts under the pretense that the money is for the plots.
In some instances, the mayor said, the officials would sell plots meant for vulnerable people.
“We launched an investigation, and as we speak, we have suspended three employees. The investigation is nearly complete,” he said.
Amwele said there is concrete evidence which may result in the suspended officials being relieved of their duties.
He said unemployed single mothers and other vulnerable people at the town have been taken advantage of in this way.
He said the council has been investigating the matter, and it took quite some time to ascertain tip-offs from members of the public.
Some residents have paid for the land allocated to them by the council, while others received land at the expense of the needy, Amwele said.
The mayor referred the question of how many plots have been sold in this way to the town’s chief executive officer, Ishmael Namugongo.
However, in an interview with Ondangwa-based radio station Shipi FM yesterday, Amwele said more than 600 plots were illegally sold by the involved officials.
He said individuals who have bought plots from the suspended officials should come forward and report it to the town council.
Some of the victims have already reported to the office, he said.
“Even those who were asked to buy plots and did not have money to pay must come and report. They can report to me or to the CEO or other officials, but mostly to me or the CEO, so we can address this issue,” the mayor said.
Namugongo could yesterday not comment on the matter, saying the investigations are still at an early stage.
“Commenting on it at this stage might jeopardise the whole process,” he said.
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