WALVIS BAY – The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is scrutinising the sale of 49 houses built and allocated under the Massive Urban Land Servicing project at Walvis Bay.
ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamhata confirmed the latest development into the investigation to New Era yesterday.
She said this is part of their ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption and lack of transparency in the project, as well as the N$24 million allegedly unaccounted for at the Walvis Bay municipality.
The ACC initiated the investigation last November after former Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Ipinge laid a charge against the municipality due to the discrepancies in the project, and the alleged missing millions.
As a result, the municipality’s CEO Muronga Haingura, general manager Agostinho Victor, manager of housing and properties Jack Manale, as well as property clerk Connie Summers were suspended from their
duties.
A document circulated this week on social media indicated that the ACC requested documentation for at least 49 of the 940 houses that were built under the project, as well as the title deeds of such houses.
“The ACC is investigating alleged corrupt practices with regard to the above subject matter. ACC would like to request your deeds registry office to provide the commission with all the documents (if any) that were provided for the registrations. Also, the title deeds and deeds of transfer in respect of the properties situated at Walvis Bay,” ACC acting director general Paulus Noa wrote in a letter dated 7 April.
According to the ACC letter, some of these houses are in Narraville and Kuisebmond.
Nghituwamhata yesterday also told New Era that the ACC has received some of the documents already.
“Yes, we have received some of the documents. They are coming through slowly but surely,” she explained.
She added that due to the circulation of the list, some home owners have out of their own will also submitted their documents, as well as given statements to the ACC.
It is also alleged that some of the recipients of the houses are relatives of some of the suspended officials as well as at least one councillor who served during the construction and allocation of these houses.
However, Nghituwamhata said only the investigation will determine the outcome, as well as any steps that will be taken afterwards.
“At this stage, we don’t want to say anything, and will wait for the investigations to be concluded,” she added.
Ipinge yesterday said that he is indeed happy that the ACC is making progress in the case.
“My activism is driven by principle and integrity, and I have been consistent for what I stand for. The community’s wellbeing is very close to my heart,” he observed.
As for the investigation, he said it should go as widely as possible so as to root out corruption within society.
“People should be held accountable, and we are aware that the housing list was tampered with. We submitted a list with 9 700 names, but I can confirm that only about seven of those people were awarded houses,” Ipinge explained.
He added that N$230 million was paid by the municipality to contractors who built the houses for the applicants with whom the municipality signed deeds of sale.
However, N$24 million has been registered in the homeowners’ names, but the money never reached the municipality’s bank accounts.
edeklerk@nepc.com.na