Sostenus Wilherm
An Ondangwa councillor has called for the full accounting of public funds allegedly spent on an official trip after accusing the town’s mayor of deviating from a council resolution to attend a different event while claiming official travel benefits.
Councillor Angelina Immanuel has submitted a formal notice of questions to the chief executive officer of the Ondangwa Town Council, demanding written explanations and supporting documents relating to the mayor’s attendance at the Namibia Local Authorities Sports and Recreation Association (NALASRA) games in Grootfontein in May 2026.
The submitted questions seek to establish whether council resources, including a vehicle, fuel, and daily subsistence allowance, were used for activities that were not authorised by council.
Immanuel told the Windhoek Observer that the council had adopted a resolution authorising all councillors to attend the NALASRA games. However, she alleges that only two days into the event, the mayor left without informing fellow councillors where she was going.
“There was a resolution on attending the NALASRA games and that resolution was for all councillors to go. Upon our arrival there, just two days after, the mayor left and did not inform us where she was going,” Immanuel said.
She alleged that the mayor instead attended the official opening of the Omaludi Festival, despite no council resolution authorising attendance at that event.
“The subsistence and travel allowance was paid for attendance at the NALASRA Games until the end, but she allegedly went to Omaludi. We never passed any resolution to attend the official opening at Omaludi. That is a deviation from the council resolution and a misuse of council money because you are paid to attend one event while using a council vehicle to attend another event that council did not approve,” she said.
The notice contains 15 detailed questions directed at the council administration. Among them are requests for the vehicle booking forms, travel authorisation documents, logbooks, proof of consultation with council before the alleged deviation, and confirmation that all expenditure complied with the Local Authorities Act, council policies, and approved budgets.
Immanuel is also demanding clarity on whether any part of the mayor’s trip involved political activities rather than official council business.
She further asks whether management has assessed if council funds, fuel, accommodation, subsistence allowances, or official working time were used for purposes unrelated to approved council functions, and whether any money should be recovered.
The councillor said the council administration has already acknowledged that payments were made for portions of the trip that were not attended.
“After I submitted the notice of questions, there was a response from the CEO which confirmed that there was payment made for a period the mayor did not attend. She is supposed to pay that money back. The evidence is there that she deviated from the council resolution,” Immanuel claimed.
She added that the documentation requested from the council will be critical in determining the full financial implications of the alleged deviation.
“The written report must reveal the kilometres travelled so that the distance covered by the mayor can be verified, as well as the fuel expenses incurred. Those records will determine whether what I am questioning is true and the amount that should be repaid to council,” she said.
Immanuel questioned whether all the requested records would be fully disclosed.
“I doubt they will provide all that information, but those documents are important in establishing accountability.”
She argued that if public resources were used for purposes outside those authorised by council, the matter could amount to corruption and should be investigated.
“When council resources are misused, that constitutes corruption. The Anti-Corruption Commission must come in and investigate, together with the relevant Code of Conduct provisions,” she said.
Immanuel said elected representatives have a duty to ensure every cent of public money is spent lawfully and in the interests of residents.
“Our message to the public is that we were elected to account for everything and every resource of the council. We must make sure that council resources are not misused and that the priorities of our people are not replaced by personal or political interests,” she said.
The Ondangwa Town Council is expected to respond to the councillor’s questions in writing in accordance with its Standing Rules.
The mayor had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
