BUKALO – The Bukalo Village Council is facing several financial challenges, including delayed third-party payments, salary issues and the suspension of medical aid contributions for employees.
Despite these obstacles, CEO Anna Sazita has reassured residents that they are working around the clock to address these concerns.
“Our third-party service providers are a top priority, and while we have encountered tight financial situations, we are committed to paying them as soon as possible. After making enquiries with the line ministry yesterday, I was informed that our request to pay our third-party service providers had been approved, and we were asked to submit our bank confirmation so that payments can be done.
When we conduct reconciliations, the outstanding amounts will be added to the current invoices to ensure that no one is left unpaid”, she stated. This comes after some employees of the Bukalo Village Council raised concerns regarding the council’s failure to pay third-party service providers for the past nine months, along with regular delays in salary payments.
Since March, the council has not remitted money deducted from employees’ salaries to the relevant third parties. As a result, employees’ medical aid cover with NMC was suspended three months ago due to non-payment, exacerbating frustrations among staff.
In October 2024, employees held a meeting with the full council to address these issues. Aggrieved employees said council chairperson Simataa Mubonda promised to convene another meeting to find solutions, but no tangible outcomes have been achieved since then.
Attempts by the Namibia Public Workers Union, led by branch chairperson Oscar Mukelabai to resolve the issue, have also failed to produce any results, leaving employees dissatisfied with the council.
“The ongoing delays in salary payments and failure to fulfill financial obligations have created an atmosphere of unrest among the council’s workforce,” complained an employee.
The council has also faced difficulties in paying employees’ salaries on time.
“We are aware of the situation, and we are working closely with the ministry to resolve the financial gaps,” Sazita added.
In addition to the salary delays, the council has had to suspend medical aid cover for its employees.
Sazita acknowledged the issue: “This is a regrettable situation, but the ministry is actively attending to the matter, and we hope to restore the medical aid cover soon.”
The Bukalo Village Council has furthermore been dealing with limited transportation. Recently, councillors had to hire a vehicle to attend a commemorative event organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Rundu.
“Our only council vehicle is in poor condition, which is why we had to hire one for this important occasion. We simply do not have a reliable vehicle fleet,” said Sazita.
Regarding the land compensation of residents, she stated that 29 residents have already received compensation, leaving only 10 who have outstanding legal documentation issues.
“The process is ongoing. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has conducted an audit, and there are no outstanding claims for compensation. We are fully-compliant with the process, and we encourage any affected individuals to follow the proper channels for claims”, she continued.
On procurement, the council has come under scrutiny for awarding tenders to a single bidder.
However, the CEO said the council follows a strict and transparent procedure.
“We ensure that all tenders are awarded based on compliance with technical specifications. This is standard procedure, and we follow all the necessary steps to ensure fairness,” she stated.
Furthermore, there have been concerns about the alleged misuse of petty cash by the CEO without the council’s blessing.
“The Bukalo Village Council does not currently operate a petty cash facility. There is no provision for petty cash in the budget. We are focused on managing our finances responsibly, and this is part of that effort”, said Sazita.
The issue of pension payments for three former employees who resigned some time ago remains unresolved. However, she said the council has not been made aware of the situation.
“Pension claims are handled directly by individuals through the relevant pension authorities. No reports have been made to the council regarding this issue,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Sazita urged the community to continue using the council’s services.
“We are committed to improving the situation, and we appreciate the support of our community during these tough times. I encourage the residents to pay their rates and taxes, water bills, and pay for their plots. We are working hard to ensure that we can continue to serve our people effectively.”
-anakale@nepc.com.na