By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK A group of thieves yesterday broke into the offices of the Khomas Regional Council where they looted computer hard drives and other equipment. The thieves stole 18 hard drives, six flat screens, one digital camera, one tape recorder, one pair of shoes and compact discs (CDs). Director of Development and Planning, Ben Mulongeni, says the break-in occurred on Wednesday night after the thieves forcefully entered the premises of the regional council by breaking the door handles of mainly senior offices, among them the governor’s. It seems the gang climbed over the fence at the back of the building and to exit, they broke one of the vertical bars of the railings to fit through the stolen items. Six audio cassettes were found on the ground next to the fence. Workers were shocked and traumatized by the incident, such that they could not work in the morning. “I am scared to even go inside my office. I am also demoralized,” said one worker. Mulongeni says the case has since been reported to the Namibian police who have already combed and dusted the area for clues and fingerprints. “I do not think this is theft or robbery, but invasion. The hard drives contain crucial information on development projects, programmes and plans,” he bemoaned. He said that the premises are the headquarters for the regional government thus it is unfortunate that all decisions taken and documented are gone. Affected offices are Finance, Director of Planning and Development, Deputy Director of Planning, Deputy Director of Rural Services, Development Planner, Rural Development Planner, the recording room, among others. By yesterday, it was estimated that 27 offices were affected. “We have lost everything. These are not thieves but enemies,” Mulongeni fumed. Among the stolen items is the recently acquired pre-paid water system machine valued at N$300 000. The system was going to help the council charge for its water services in the Khomas rural areas. The governor’s office lost one computer belonging to the secretary while the governor, Sophia Shaningwa’s hard drive was spared. The thieves rather soothed their throats with a single tin of fruit juice that was in the governor’s office. The empty tin was found in the corridors a few meters away from the governor’s office. “What is this? It is a total loss for the regional government. If they were thieves then they would have taken the TV and decoder also,” she distressed. She told New Era that although her computer was spared, the briefcases in her office were heavily searched as all papers were found on the floor. “What is really sad is that they targeted strategic offices with crucial information. This is sabotaging the work of the regional council,” she said. The incident takes place two weeks after the council submitted the crucial information on the National Development Plan III. The governor made an impassioned appeal to government institutions to make provision for 24 hours’ security systems and cameras. “I think it is a syndicate. We cannot take things for granted,” she said. Shaningwa further called on the Namibian police to strengthen their operations and ensure that culprits are apprehended and charged.