By Hileni Nembwaya
THE Omusati regional council has decided not to suspend the chief control officer of Okalongo settlement, Armandus Kandowa amidst claims of maladministration and illegal land allocation.
The regional council has set up a committee to look into the queries of Okalongo residents after numerous complaints were reported to the council chambers.
Kandowa is also accused of selling plots ranging from N$60 000 to N$125 000 for his benefit.
According to the council’s chairperson, Modestus Amutse a recommendation was made not to remove Kandowa from office pending the investigation’s outcome.
“Kandowa is still in office and he is not suspended as I am hearing. The investigations into the matter are still pending and I have instructed the committee to conduct another investigation into the day-to-day affairs of Okalongo settlement. I am expecting to receive the report outcome by the end of this week or next week,” he said.
Amutse further said that the council through the advice of the administration department will only be able to decide Kandowa’s fate once the audit report has been finalised.
He said that the committee is investigating the case of 18 plots allocated to a well-connected political aide and the dubious practice of selling the same plots to different individuals amongst other complaints.
“The audit report is now clearer than before but we still have some things that need to be cleared. The outcome might result with the official (Kandowa) being transferred to another duty station based on the merits of the report,” he said.
Amutse therefore urged the residents of Okalongo to remain patient while the investigations are being carried out.
Commenting on the matter, Kandowa said that his office is open to any sort of investigations as he has nothing to hide.
“My office is open for any kind of investigations and I even invite the office of the Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct an audit report on my office,” he said.