Ohangwena Regional Council cannot account for missing N$200,000 – Windhoek Observer

Stefanus Nashama

The Ohangwena Regional Council is embroiled in a financial mystery involving the disappearance of a N$200,000 donation from the Road Fund Administration (RFA).

Despite the transaction’s documentation, the Council has yet to pinpoint the missing funds’ whereabouts.

Fillip Shilongo, the Chief Regional Officer of the Ohangwena Regional Council, stated that the funds were earmarked for purchasing food for flood victims.

However, it was later revealed that the money was allegedly transferred to a different company without the Council’s consent or approval.

Shilongo expressed the Council’s perplexity over the missing funds.

“As we speak, the whereabouts of the N$200,000 is a real mystery. We are still questioning people here and there,” he said.

Shilongo stressed that under the state finance act, the Council requires treasury approval to accept donations.

In this instance, while the Council did receive approval to accept the N$200,000, the funds were not deposited into the Council’s account as requested.

Instead, the money was reportedly directed to a different company, a move that Shilongo says came as a surprise and was not authorized by the Council.

Documents provided by RFA show the transaction was made to a different company, leaving the Council in a quandary.

The matter has since been escalated to the Office of the Prime Minister, with the Disaster Risk Management Department initiating engagement in 2024 to resolve the issue.

Although the Council has started an investigation, the recommended actions are yet to be implemented.

This incident occurred during the tenure of former regional governor, Walde Ndevashiya.

An internal source told the Windhoek Observer that someone close to Ndevashiya might have directed the RFA to transfer the funds to a company named ‘Ethics Group Holding,’ unbeknownst to the Council.

Adding to the concerns, the Ohangwena Region has recently been in the news for the wrong reasons.

Six employees were arrested for allegedly stealing drought relief food worth over N$600,000.

This series of events has raised significant concerns among the public about the accountability and governance in the region, leading to calls for urgent action by Sebastian Ndeitunga, the recently appointed regional governor,.