MINISTER of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni has lashed out at local authority councillors, accusing them of putting their own interests above their duty to develop their areas.
The Grootfontein and Windhoek municipalities, as well as the //Kharas Regional Council have been plagued by political infighting in the last year.
Swapo and Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillors last week walked out of the Windhoek City Council’s elections to vote for a new mayor and management committee.
Uutoni yesterday expressed his displeasure while addressing stakeholders at a consultation meeting on the national housing policy.
“People are spending so much time on their own interests. People are fighting, and there’s no space for them to concentrate on development,” he said.
Uutoni said political infighting has overshadowed any advancement of the areas councillors preside over.
“This year, I have observed some local authorities. Nothing could be seen as an achievement, but if you look at what they have been doing for their own interest, it is more fighting,” he said.
Earlier this year, a public clash broke out between Grootfontein mayor Talitha Garises and Kisco Sinvula, who has been suspended as the town’s chief executive officer (CEO) .
When Uutoni intervened in the stand-off, the involved councillors told him to step back.
According to the Institute of Public Policy Research, Grootfontein residents this year complained that infighting based on Swapo factionalism has a harmful effect on service delivery.
The council has reportedly failed to rehabilitate poor roads, refurbish reticulation systems, and provide electricity to new extensions as a result.
“My dear fellow leaders, please, when you are busy there, put aside politics. Concentrate on the development of your nation,” Uutoni advised the councillors.
He said “playing politics” leads to no implementation and poor service delivery.
“Like now, some local authorities are boycotting. They do not want to be sworn in. If you are not being sworn in as a councillor, what can a community expect?” the minister asked.
Another example is the opposition parties at the Katima Mulilo Town Council, which threatened to boycott the electoral process if strategic council positions are not rotated.
“They are there without leadership . . . it is where you need to deliver,” he said.
Uutoni told the councillors to think wisely.
“Say, ‘I want to be sworn in as a councillor for the next year’, otherwise this policy will not be implemented,” he said.
The Association of Local Authorities Namibia (Alan) has previously expressed concern about the prevailing suspensions of CEOs and senior managers by local authority councillors.
Meanwhile, over 10 local authorities in the Hardap and //Kharas regions have been without CEOs for over two years.
These village and town councils are Kalkrand, Stampriet, Aranos, Gibeon, Bethanie, Berseba, Keetmanshoop, Koës, Lüderitz, Oranjemund, and Karasburg.
‘WE WILL NOT’
The IPC says it does not trust other Windhoek councillors, hence the withdrawal from council elections last week.
The IPC, along with Swapo councillors, last Thursday staged a walkout during the elections of the Windhoek mayor and members of the management committee.
“The IPC is not interested in any positions, nor was interested in any nominations after being pushed out through an illegal vote of no confidence by Swapo, Affirmative Repositioning, Popular Democratic Movement and Landless People’s Movement,” IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge said.
He said IPC councillors will serve as ordinary councillors until the end of their term.
“Why would you want to work with people you don’t trust? Let those who came for food, trips, subsistence and travel allowance, and desperate to break laws fight for positions,” he said.
Nashinge said the party is not willing to compromise on its principles.
“We are willing to lose and be hated for sticking to our principles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Windhoek mayor Sade Gawanas on Friday said she would meet with the acting head of the municipality, along with their legal team and minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni to discuss a way forward.
“I will be having a meeting with the acting CEO to discuss and see the minister,” she said.
Swapo chief whip for the Windhoek City Council declined to comment on party members’ walkout.
“We would not like to comment for now,” she said on Thursday.
