Computer theft compounds Katima’s woes

EMBATTLED Katima Mulilo Town Council is dealing with shortcomings to its computer system, after thieves stole equipment from its finance offices in the early hours of last Saturday.

The motive for the theft of printers – used to produce cheques and other financial documents – has raised suspicions as it occurred just two days after the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing had indicated that a delegation would spend three weeks visiting the council premises. On Monday a team led by the Director of Local and Regional Government and Traditional Authority Co-ordination, Raymond Matiti, began implementing recommendations from a ministerial audit conducted late last year.A key recommendation being implemented by the team is to help the council with revenue collection.Matiti said yesterday that his officials were not there to “take over” the council, as workers and residents have requested in recent months, but to help improve current systems.He said the the theft of computer equipment was hampering the financial team’s work but that they were exploring alternatives.According to Town Clerk Agnes Limbo, the break-in and theft of items, including a modem and two uninterruptible power supply units, had not resulted in the loss of information.Although the premises were guarded by two security guards, the fence on the south side was cut and three windows protected by burglar bars were broken.Limbo told The Namibian that she doubted the equipment was removed in this manner, and that the burglars most likely had copies of the office keys, easily obtainable from hardware stores.The Police Public Relations Unit yesterday confirmed the break-in but could not say whether talk that the security guards had been arrested was true.”You never know,” said Limbo when asked whether the break-in could be related to the audit team’s visit.She said a lot of work lay ahead to try and boost the council’s financial resources.Acknowledging that council’s operating systems could be improved, she said residents who didn’t pay their bills even while complaining about a lack of development were also to blame for the financial crisis .The ministerial team will also examine the town’s inefficient prepaid-water system – a big contributor to the weak revenue base.”I hope things will get better.The progress will be slow as the damage was caused over a long time.It’s not going to be fixed overnight”, she told The Namibian.On Monday a team led by the Director of Local and Regional Government and Traditional Authority Co-ordination, Raymond Matiti, began implementing recommendations from a ministerial audit conducted late last year. A key recommendation being implemented by the team is to help the council with revenue collection. Matiti said yesterday that his officials were not there to “take over” the council, as workers and residents have requested in recent months, but to help improve current systems. He said the the theft of computer equipment was hampering the financial team’s work but that they were exploring alternatives. According to Town Clerk Agnes Limbo, the break-in and theft of items, including a modem and two uninterruptible power supply units, had not resulted in the loss of information. Although the premises were guarded by two security guards, the fence on the south side was cut and three windows protected by burglar bars were broken. Limbo told The Namibian that she doubted the equipment was removed in this manner, and that the burglars most likely had copies of the office keys, easily obtainable from hardware stores. The Police Public Relations Unit yesterday confirmed the break-in but could not say whether talk that the security guards had been arrested was true. “You never know,” said Limbo when asked whether the break-in could be related to the audit team’s visit. She said a lot of work lay ahead to try and boost the council’s financial resources. Acknowledging that council’s operating systems could be improved, she said residents who didn’t pay their bills even while complaining about a lack of development were also to blame for the financial crisis . The ministerial team will also examine the town’s inefficient prepaid-water system – a big contributor to the weak revenue base. “I hope things will get better. The progress will be slow as the damage was caused over a long time. It’s not going to be fixed overnight”, she told The Namibian.