Windhoek, Oniipa councils on ministry’s radar
The City of Windhoek council and Oniipa town council are on the radar of the urban and rural development ministry, and drastic action is likely to be taken if they do not address internal squabbles that have resulted in vacant seats on the council.
In Windhoek's municipal council, two seats are vacant in the management committee, while at Oniipa, the mayor, Augustus Nangolo, has been suspended by Swapo, and the council has also not elected a chairperson for the management committee yet.
In the case of Windhoek, a lack of a management committee means that the local authority is limited in its ability to act.
As for Oniipa, decision-making powers at the council are also affected.
Ministry explains
The urban and rural development ministry said the two local authorities are being monitored closely, and the ministry is waiting for reports in order for appropriate action to be taken.
“In the event where the election process at a given local authority is incomplete because of one reason or another, the presiding magistrate has to postpone the exercise to an agreed date in order to finalise the process,” the ministry noted in response to questions by Namibian Sun.
“This is exactly what transpired in the two cases that you referred to in your inquiry, namely the Windhoek municipal council and Oniipa town council," the ministry added.
“With regard to your question as to what the ministry is doing to intervene in the two above-mentioned local authorities, Section 92 of the Local Authorities Act of 1992, as amended, provides for the process and procedures that have to be followed when the situation at a given local authority council warrants action to be taken against such local authority council by the sector minister,” the ministry explained.
“The ministry is aware of the events and is monitoring the situation at both Windhoek municipal council and Oniipa town council with regard to the completion of the election process for their office bearers, and when the situation warrants ministerial intervention, appropriate action will be taken by the minister in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
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In Windhoek's municipal council, two seats are vacant in the management committee, while at Oniipa, the mayor, Augustus Nangolo, has been suspended by Swapo, and the council has also not elected a chairperson for the management committee yet.
In the case of Windhoek, a lack of a management committee means that the local authority is limited in its ability to act.
As for Oniipa, decision-making powers at the council are also affected.
Ministry explains
The urban and rural development ministry said the two local authorities are being monitored closely, and the ministry is waiting for reports in order for appropriate action to be taken.
“In the event where the election process at a given local authority is incomplete because of one reason or another, the presiding magistrate has to postpone the exercise to an agreed date in order to finalise the process,” the ministry noted in response to questions by Namibian Sun.
“This is exactly what transpired in the two cases that you referred to in your inquiry, namely the Windhoek municipal council and Oniipa town council," the ministry added.
“With regard to your question as to what the ministry is doing to intervene in the two above-mentioned local authorities, Section 92 of the Local Authorities Act of 1992, as amended, provides for the process and procedures that have to be followed when the situation at a given local authority council warrants action to be taken against such local authority council by the sector minister,” the ministry explained.
“The ministry is aware of the events and is monitoring the situation at both Windhoek municipal council and Oniipa town council with regard to the completion of the election process for their office bearers, and when the situation warrants ministerial intervention, appropriate action will be taken by the minister in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
- [email protected]
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