Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kelvin Chiringa
Published on 2024-02-29 15:00:00
The Gobabis municipality is currently embroiled in a legal battle with its manager for health and community services, Steve Adonis, concerning unpaid salaries that have been accumulating for over 10 years. The situation has been attributed to a personal vendetta by the human resources manager, Frieda Shimakeleni, against Adonis, according to Isak de Beer, a member of the Gobabis management committee.
Documents reveal that Adonis is owed a staggering N$844,840 as of 2021, but the amount has since increased to over N$1.2 million due to non-payment over the years. Additionally, the municipality was also facing a dispute with its transport officer, who was allegedly owed N$1.8 million in unpaid salaries.
Despite attempts to resolve the issue, Adonis expressed a lack of confidence in the HR department’s ability to handle the matter objectively. Management committee chairperson Sylvester Binga appointed Adonis as acting chief executive in 2021, further complicating the situation.
Labour consultant Diaz Kavu, representing Adonis in the Labour Court, mentioned that Adonis’s conflict of interest as the acting CEO may have delayed his payment. The Gobabis municipal council, in a meeting in February 2022, recommended seeking legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office on the transport officer’s case and approved partial payment of N$500,000 to Adonis with the balance to be paid in installments.
De Beer emphasized that the HR department’s reluctance to address the issue was a significant factor in prolonging the dispute. Shimakeleni declined to comment on the reasons behind the salary payment problems and redirected inquiries to the CEO.
Shimakeleni, who was facing multiple charges including disobeying work orders and leaking confidential information, refused to provide insights into Adonis’s case. Despite efforts by the council to address the matter, Eises failed to facilitate Adonis’s payments, as revealed in documents obtained by Desert Radio.
Eises refrained from commenting due to the pending legal proceedings but requested written questions, which remained unanswered at the time. The issue has been ongoing since 2014, predating Eises’s tenure at the council. The dispute is now set to be resolved through arbitration in the Labour Court on 8 and 9 March, according to Kavu.
The complexity of the situation highlights the challenges faced by Adonis and the municipality in resolving the long-standing payment dispute. The legal proceedings underscore the need for transparency and accountability in handling financial matters within the public sector. As the case progresses, it will be crucial for all parties involved to adhere to legal processes and work towards a fair resolution.
Read the original article on The Namibian
