The Zambezi Regional Council on Wednesday during a special council meeting recommended that the chief regional officer, Regina Ndopu-Lubinda, be suspended.
The recommendation comes weeks after her arrest in a corruption probe involving N$4,6 million.
Councillors John Likando, Kennedy Simasiku and Humphrey Divai confirmed the recommended suspension.
They referred other questions to the council chairperson, Warden Simushi.
Simushi did not answer calls made to him, nor did he respond to questions sent to him.
Ndopu-Lubinda also declined to comment on the matter and referred all questions to the council and Simushi.
The special council meeting follows a report by The Namibian last week, in which former parliamentarian Sankwasa James Sankwasa urged the regional leadership to take action regarding the recent arrests of management cadres.
Simushi had been accused by some councillors of avoiding convening a special council meeting to address the matter and inform the region’s residents.
Sankwasa advised the council not to wait on the Anti-Corruption Commision or any other body to act on the matter.
“The recommendation for suspensions should be submitted to the Public Service Commission. Another submission requesting for the appointment of an investigating officer or officers should be made to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development,” said Sankwasa.
Sources within the regional council anonymously confirmed that all councillors in attendance agreed to the resolution.
These sources also said Simushi was travelling to Windhoek to consult further on the matter.
This raised questions about the need for consultation, especially when the solution appears to be as simple as writing a letter to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Additionally, it was reported that Simushi allegedly met with Ndopu-Lubinda after the special council meeting, instead of instructing the human resource director to compose the letter to the ministry.
Ndopu-Lubinda was released from police custody on bail of N$50 000, along with her co-accused, deputy director of administration Abraham Shikoyeni, chief accountant Nimrod Lichela, regional director for planning and rural development Beaven Walubita, deputy director of planning and rural development Cletius Mubita and chief development planner Daniel Mbala.
The accused individuals are scheduled to appear in court on 7 December.
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