Petrus Muronga
RUNDU – Suspended chief executive officer of the Rundu Town Council (RTC), Romanus Haironga, has resumed his office duties. Haironga, who was on suspension for almost a year, is back at work but has not been given keys to his office after locks were changed immediately after he was sent home.
“I started going to work on 2 May. I just started because my suspension ended and by law if the suspension has lapsed one must go back to work but my office is still locked. I was informed the chairperson will deliver my keys,” Haironga said.
Haironga was suspended last year June following allegations of meddling in then ongoing investigations into irregularities at the council.
His suspension was meant to last for three months, but was later extended.
Mayor Verna Sinimbo, when contacted for confirmation on the matter on Thursday, referred this agency to her deputy as she was on leave.
Deputy Mayor Ralph Ihemba then confirmed that Haironga would be resuming his duties as the CEO of the council, but declined to divulge further information.
“I cannot divulge anything now until Monday when we will have a meeting to clarify issues as well as welcoming him back; then I can talk to you,” he said.
Haironga was suspended along with three other employees of the council on allegations of corruption during a council caucus meeting last year.
Former RTC acting CEO, Fransiska Thikerete, whose term expired last month, told Nampa in February that the council was to be briefed the same month by private investigator Linus Neumbo, who was appointed to probe the accusations of malpractice, corruption and kickbacks around tenders awarded by the town council.
However, the local authority has still not pronounced itself on the results of the investigations against the suspended employees.
The other three, who remain on suspension, are strategic executive for corporate services, Herman Haingura, head of technical and mechanical affairs, Leevi Kakukuru, and head of environmental health, Sitembikhosi Moyo. – Nampa (Reporter John Muyamba contributed to this report.)