Testifying before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI), Mbenga confirmed that she prepared vouchers for various expenses, including:
D200,000 for T-shirts for the Mayoress’ town hall meeting; D400,000 as council support for flood victims; D200,000 for an air ticket upgrade from economy to business class; D97,500 for catering at the town hall dinner; D100,000 as condolence support for fire victims and D93,000 as payment for visibility services among others.
She revealed that once the funds were withdrawn, she either paid vendors directly or handed over cash to the Mayoress or a representative. In some cases, she was instructed to provide invoices to recipients.
One of the most questioned transactions was a D200,000 voucher for an air ticket upgrade. Mbenga stated that she withdrew the money and handed it to the Mayoress but did not follow up on whether the ticket was actually upgraded. The issue, she said was later flagged by the fraud squad and audit department, leading to an order for the Mayoress to refund the amount.
Mbenga also testified about a D450,000 voucher for the National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) preparations, adding that D197,000 was also handed over to the Mayoress’ protocol officer, Marget Samba, as instructed by the Mayoress .
She provided the commission with a receipt of payment as evidence, which was subsequently admitted into evidence and marked as exhibit.
The remaining funds, she said were reportedly spent on food, refreshments, and payments to local hunting societies.
Mbenga clarified that she did not personally select service providers but was given contacts by the Mayoress, whom she then called as per instructions.
Despite handling significant financial transactions, Mbenga admitted that she did not keep official records of all the payments, nor did she sign any formal contract of employment. She acknowledged that this was improper but stated she only acted under direct instructions from the Mayoress.
When questioned by lead Counsel Patrick Gomez about her responsibilities as Public Relations Officer, she explained that her responsibilities included coordinating the council’s public affairs, contacting media houses for events, and managing the council’s website.
As the hearing continues, she submitted some documentation regarding the retirement of certain vouchers but was asked to match them with corresponding voucher records, with proceedings set to continue.
