The City of Windhoek has defended its decision to hold its strategic review and budget planning session out of town.
The City’s public relations officer Lydia Amutenya told New Era “by convening in a different setting, away from the routine work environment, participants can
engage with a renewed focus and perspective.”
On Sunday, the City announced that it will be hosting a five-day strategic review and budget planning session aimed at evaluating the progress and challenges encountered in the implementation of its Strategic Plan 2022-2027, while also preparing for the 2024/25 financial year.
“The session scheduled to take place from 15 to 19 April 2024 in Swakopmund, signifies a critical juncture in the City’s strategic planning process, and it will be attended by the members of council and the executive team,” the statement said.
The annual review holds significance, as it allows them to assess their achievements, successes and challenges in executing their strategic plan.
“By identifying and addressing these issues, we ensure alignment between our strategic objectives and budgetary allocations, essential for crafting strategies and solutions to optimise our efforts in meeting our goals,” the statement further read.
Broke
In a recent audit report, Auditor General (AG) Junias Kandjeke portrayed a precarious picture of the City’s financial position.
He stated that the City of Windhoek lacks a plan for addressing its commercial insolvency and deficit-making position in the foreseeable future.
This report was compiled in September 2023. “The financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Municipality of Windhoek as of 30 June 2021, and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended,” he states in the City’s audit report for the 2020/2021 financial year, justifying the qualified audit opinion.
A qualified audit opinion is when the auditor obtains sufficient appropriate audit evidence and concludes that misstatements, individually or in the aggregate, are material but not pervasive to the financial statements.
However, what is apparent is the precarious financial position the City finds itself in.
“There is a lack of proper accounting policy notes and accounting treatment for the accounting of private-public partnership transactions,” according to the audit.
While acknowledging the City’s financial position, Amutenya said it is imperative to underscore the significance of this session beyond fiscal matters alone.
She said the session plays a pivotal role in ensuring the continued success and effective operation of the organisation.
She further justified that convening in a different setting, away from the routine work environment, will help participants engage with a renewed focus and perspective.
“While mindful of the council’s financial constraints, it is essential to prioritise the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the strategic planning process. By investing in a focused and productive session, the council aims to lay a robust foundation for informed decision-making and strategic alignment, ensuring continued progress and success for the City of Windhoek,” said Amutenya.
Waste
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Maximalliant Katjimune sees this as a total waste of money. “Especially when one considers that the City is under severe financial constraints, and runs on an overdraft facility to meet its monthly financial obligations,” he said.
He said Windhoek has enough venues to host such an engagement, therefore expressing concern that the trip was even approved.
“It goes against the values of good governance, and has no reasonability to it at all,” he opined.
Expressing similar concerns was Longinus Iipumbu of the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF).
He said the political parties sitting in the council have chosen money over the needs of the masses.
“To us as the a party, it is unfortunate that we don’t have a representative. But the City was supposed to look at the lives and living condition of the people, rather than running around to have a meeting elsewhere,” he stressed.
Iipumbu sees the decision as embarrassing.
“Why address issues of the council in a different town?” he questioned.