Kunene's Kamseb remains on suspension

Kunene's Kamseb remains on suspension With the new governor Marius Sheya to take office this week, it is reported that the Kunene Region finds itself in a dilemma following the illegal suspension of the chief regional officer (CRO), George Kamseb, in October 2016.

The regional council has forked out close to N$1 million in salaries and benefits for Kamseb and the acting CRO for almost a year and three months, although no action has been taken against Kamseb.

It is further stated that Kamseb, who was suspended with his full salary and benefits, has refused to come back to work without being given a reason as to why he was forced to take leave in the first place, after his suspension was ruled as illegal by the Public Service Commission (PSC). Kamseb who is reportedly farming full time, told Namibian Sun yesterday that nothing was communicated to him on paper by the council since his suspension a year and three months ago.

“Since my suspension I have not received any letter from council. I am still waiting to hear from them. Until now I do not know why I am suspended,” Kamseb said. He could neither confirm nor deny whether council had communicated with him via telephone. The council chairperson Julius Kaujova said that they are waiting for the urban and rural development ministry to advise them on the way forward.

“We have tried our best in this matter. For any progress on the matter you must ask the urban and rural development ministry,” Kaujova said.

Kaujova said that Kamseb had been investigated on number of issues and also on why he could not fully implement a number of council resolutions.

“As a council we feel that there was incompetency and a deliberate ignorance of the mandate. We are also investigating issues of his appointment,” Kaujova said. On 19 October 2016, the council served Kamseb with a letter ordering him to stay away from the regional council building until further notice, however his suspension was ruled as illegal by the PSC two months later.

Last year the PSC chairperson, Marcus Kampungu, told Namibian Sun that the council made a mistake by suspending Kamseb without consulting them.

“We received the suspension request from Kunene in November 2016, a month after they had suspended him. However, we rejected the request to suspend him. For us to suspend there must be grounds that the official in question could interfere with investigations but in their request there was no grounds for this.” Kampungu said.

Kampungu added that they advised Kunene to charge Kamseb while he was still on duty, but the council never got back to them. According to a well-placed source, Kamseb was suspended after allegedly failing to provide the council with his employment contract, and he is now enjoying his salary and benefits at his farm. CROs earn in the salary range of N$489 661 to N$519 632 per year, the same as a deputy permanent secretary. They also get a monthly housing allowance of N$7 506 as well as a car allowance of N$10 936.

Deputy directors earn in the range of N$421 859 to N$443 502, receive a car allowance of N$5 993 on the capital cost, and N$2 145 on the running costs.

However, the Regional Council Act No 22 of 1992 read together with the Public Servant's Act No 2 of 1980 do not specify an official's term of suspension.

The director of general services, Joseph Jantze, is the acting CRO.

ILENI NANDJATO