Walvis Bay, Haingura go their separate ways
WALVIS BAY - The Walvis Bay municipal council has opted to part ways with its chief executive officer Muronga Haingura.
Haingura, who is on suspension along with three other municipal employees being investigated for irregularities regarding the Massive Urban Land Servicing Project, was notified earlier this week of council’s intention.
His second term as CEO is ending in November this year.
He has been serving as CEO since 2011.
Sources within the municipality this week revealed that Haingura was served with an official notice earlier this week after a council resolution was taken not to renew his employment contract.
The chairperson of the management committee, Leroy Victor, yesterday confirmed the development to New Era, saying council has unanimously opted not to renew Haingura’s employment contract for a third term.
“Yes, it is true, and it is nothing personal. We have notified him in this regard as his contract ends in November,” he stated yesterday morning.
According to Victor, councillors followed council procedures and the Local Authorities Act with due diligence, and notified Haingura well in advance of their intention not to keep him on for a third term.
“We had to notify him at least 90 days in advance as stipulated by the Act to avoid any legal implications for council. He indeed served two terms, and we now want to give another vibrant leader the opportunity to lead the town and implement all council resolutions that will be taken onwards,” he explained.
Victor added that the town is in need of a CEO who can lead the whole team to bring the necessary changes and development that the local authority needs.
“We are in charge of the CEO, and he is in charge of the municipality.
The role of the CEO is to make sure all resolutions are followed through and implemented,” he observed.
Another source in the municipality yesterday also told New Era that Haingura will pocket close to N$1 million in severance pay.
“His contract stipulates that he is entitled to 50% of his annual remuneration. Hence, council cannot deviate from that,” the source said.
Attempts to reach Haingura proved futile.
Before serving as CEO, he initially acted in the position that was vacated by former CEO Augustinus Katiti.
During Katiti’s tenure as CEO, Haingura served as finance general manager.
Forensic report
Meanwhile, Victor confirmed they have received the draft forensic report on the municipality’s affairs, and are waiting on the auditors to compile an executive report that will be released in due course. “The document is at least 200 pages, hence it needs to be compacted to an executive summary. We can also only take further steps based on the findings of the report,” he continued.
Council last year initiated a forensic audit after former Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Ipinge laid charges against the municipality due to the discrepancies in the housing project and the N$24 million that was unaccounted for.
As a result, Haingura, general manager Victor Agostinho, manager of housing and properties Jack Manale as well as property clerk Connie Summers were suspended from their duties in December last year.