Windhoek: The Kavango West Regional Council failed to submit its financial statements for audit for seven consecutive years, leaving its accounts unaudited by the auditor-general and raising serious questions about financial accountability and compliance with the law.According to Namibia Press Agency, this was revealed on Tuesday, when the council's management and political leadership appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts during a public hearing in Nkurenkuru. The session formed part of the committee's oversight into how public institutions manage and report on state funds.The council last submitted financial statements in 2017, meaning no audited accounts exist for the subsequent financial years. Members of the committee warned that this prolonged failure undermines effective oversight of public expenditure and weakens assurance that public funds are properly managed and accounted for.The committee's chairperson, Hendrik Gaobaeb, reminded the council that the law is cl ear on the duties of accounting officers to prepare and submit financial statements within three months after the end of each financial year so that the auditor-general can carry out audits. 'Today our role is very simple and clear - that of ensuring prudent financial management within public institutions. Our obligation is to interrogate and scrutinise public expenditure,' Gaobaeb said, stressing that regular reporting and auditing are essential for transparency and good governance.Kavango West Chief Regional Officer Matheus Singambwe acknowledged the council's non-compliance, saying the accounting officer is legally obliged to submit financial statements within 90 days after year-end, as required under section 40 of the Regional Councils Act. Singambwe attributed the backlog partly to historical and administrative challenges stemming from the split of the former Kavango Regional Council into Kavango East and Kavango West, which left records scattered and key posts in the finance division vacant.He furth er informed the committee that the council recently prepared and submitted financial statements up to the 2024 financial year to the auditor-general and is awaiting audit opinions, with a plan to complete the 2025-2026 financial statements by October this year. The committee reiterated that public officials responsible for State resources will be held to account in line with applicable laws and that delays and non-submission of financial statements will not be tolerated as it denies citizens clear information on how their money is used.