Regional council 'messed up'

Regional council 'messed up' The Kunene Regional Council is reportedly being haunted by the suspension of its chief regional officer George Kamseb. Kamseb was placed on forced leave in October last year pending an investigation by the council.

It now appears that there were no reasonable grounds for suspending him.

This was confirmed by a source privy to the affairs of the regional council.

Kamseb was suspended with full pay and was ordered to stay away from the regional council building until further notice.

When Kamseb was suspended on 19 October, the council did not specify why he was put on forced leave, apart from saying that the decision was the outcome of an ordinary council meeting held on 18 October.

According to the source, the decision came after Kamseb allegedly failed to provide the council with his employment contract.

The council reportedly realised that it had blundered in suspending its top administrator and tried to convince him to return to work, but he refused, according to the source.

“The council is finding itself in a difficult position now. It did not consult relevant offices before taking the decision. Kamseb has refused to come back to work without being given a reason why he was forced to take leave. They are now consulting relevant authorities.”

The chairperson of the council's management committee, Julius Kaujova, said they were consulting relevant authorities to address the “complicated situation”.

“I cannot divulge much information at this stage. We have just asked the Public Service Commission to advise us in this regard. After they respond to our request, then we can be able to talk without any implication. Hopefully they will respond before the full council meeting in three weeks' time,” Kaujova said.

Kamseb, who has been at the regional council since 2005, could not be reached for comment. He did not answer his cellphone and did not respond to text messages.

ILENI NANDJATO