Staff Reporter
The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly has expressed disappointment and concern over the financial management of Oshikuku Town Council after discovering that its finance function has been overseen for nearly two decades by an official without the necessary financial expertise.
The concerns emerged during a recent public hearing convened to examine the Auditor-General’s adverse audit opinions on the council’s financial statements for the financial years ended 30 June 2022 and 2023.
During the hearing, the committee was informed that Filippus Angula, who has overseen the council’s finance function for almost 19 years, does not hold formal finance qualifications or have a finance-related professional background. Furthermore, even after his retirement, the council failed to replace him with a suitably qualified candidate.
“Angula retired in January 2026 but was retained as Manager: Finance, HR and Administration. His initial three-month extension ran from April to June 2026, after which Council approved another three-month extension from July to September 2026 while the recruitment process for his replacement remains unfinished,” Parliament explained.
Committee member Dr Peya Mushelenga cautioned that the council’s financial problems would persist unless it appointed someone with the necessary expertise to oversee its accounts.
“As long as you don’t have a competent person to compile your statements, to look and reflect on your statements, this problem will continue to repeat itself. Therefore, council should be hands-on and ensure that you have in place a person who will be able to ensure that you comply with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards,” Mushelenga said.
Council representatives struggled to answer several questions from committee members concerning the Auditor-General’s findings, prompting the committee to end the hearing early and resolve to subpoena Oshikuku Town Council to appear before Parliament in Windhoek on a date yet to be announced.
“The subpoena is expected to give the Council another opportunity to provide the Committee with clear explanations on the matters raised in the adverse audit opinions and to account directly for the management of public resources. For residents of Oshikuku, the proceedings highlight a broader question of trust: whether local authorities are doing enough to ensure that public money is properly accounted for and that concerns raised by the Auditor-General are addressed,” Parliament continued.
Photo: Parliament of the Republic of Namibia
