WALVIS BAY – The Usakos Town Council has again suspended its chief executive officer, Gruzi Goseb.
Goseb who confirmed his suspension to New Era on Thursday afternoon said he was suspended on April 2 following a decision taken by council.
According to Goseb his suspension came as a surprise as he only received his suspension letter during a special council meeting called by the town’s mayor, Councillor Gustaf !Hoaeb.
“I was tasked to call the meeting and make all preparations, unaware that I was heading towards being suspended,” Goseb said on Thursday.
He says he did not receive an agenda for the meeting and thus was in the dark why the meeting was actually called.
“However, the mayor has the authority to call such meetings if there is a burning issue that needs urgent attention,” he said.
According to him it came as a shock when he realised there was only one topic on the agenda, his suspension.
“Can you imagine that I orchestrated my own suspension! I am dumbfounded by the tactics used by council. I still don’t know on what basis I am suspended as the letter only indicates the suspension is immediately effective,” he added.
When asked whether there are issues that might have caused council to take such drastic action, Goseb said he was not aware of any that could have led to council’s decision.
He said he was still waiting for council to inform him about a hearing. However no communication had taken place between the two parties after the suspension.
This is the second time that Goseb is suspended by council. In June 2013, Goseb was suspended for allegedly disregarding council resolutions.
Goseb’s suspension was as a result of him opposing a council decision to use already strained council funds to participate in the Namibian Local Authorities’ Sports and Recreation Association (NALASRA) games held in L üderitz.
Goseb during that period through a letter reminded the management committee that the council was experiencing serious financial challenges and was already struggling to pay creditors. He then advised council that participating would not be in the best interest of the council.
His recommendation prompted the council’s management committee to suspend him from his duties and resolved that the town council should participate in the games, and that a total of N$48 876 be made available for councillors and council employees who attended the games.
Eventually Goseb returned to office in October 2013 after he was instructed by the line ministry to spearhead his own re-instatement, after officials that were instructed to do so took too long.