KATIMA MULILO - The Zambezi Regional Council will convene an urgent special meeting on Wednesday to tackle the recent arrest of six senior officials.

This comes after some Zambezi regional councillors this week petitioned management committee chairperson Matengu Warden Simushi to call an urgent council meeting, following the arrest of senior officials over alleged N$4.7 million fraud at the council. 

In an interview yesterday, Simushi confirmed the planned meeting, adding that it will be done in consultation with the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.

“We will have a council meeting next week Wednesday, where council will deliberate and map the way forward. The attorney general is the only legal entity to give a legal opinion, hence we must consult them. Even when we go to court, the entity that represents the State is the attorney general. We need to follow the law. Should it happen that we are advised to suspend the officials, then we will definitely suspend them. We can’t do anything without consulting those two offices,” he told New Era yesterday. 

The six implicated officials comprise Regina Ndopu-Lubinda, who has been serving as CRO since 2011; Beaven Walubita, who is head of planning and rural development; deputy director of planning Cletius Mubita; chief planner Daniel Mbala; deputy director of administration Abraham Shikoyeni; as well as chief accountant Nimrod Lichela.

They appeared on charges of corruptly using their position or office for gratification. All suspects paid bail of N$50 000 each, and have since resumed work this week.

Due to the seriousness of the matter, some regional councillors had demanded an urgent special council meeting. In fact, about four councillors out of the seven expressed their displeasure towards the chairperson for failing to act on the matter timely.

The accused persons’ case has been postponed to 7 December 2023 for them to obtain legal representation. 

- anakale@nepc.com.na