Aron returns to Okahandja politics
09 January 2020 | Government
JEMIMA BEUKES
Former Okahandja mayor Valery Aron was late last year elected as information and mobilisation secretary for the Utoni Nujoma branch in the Okahandja, to the chagrin of a local pressure group.
Basie Tjikune, leader of the group Damage Control Committee, said Aron must be investigated for questionable activities during her turbulent time as mayor.
Aron said there is no link between her return to politics and her time in office.
She was further unmoved by allegations that she ran the town into the ground.
“I did not fail as mayor. How can they say I failed as mayor? If you have questions about development, then it should be directed towards those who are at the helm of the local authority. There is a mayor now, you can ask him about the progress of development of the town,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tjikune said it is unacceptable for the ruling party to allow Aron, with her questionable history as mayor, to vie for leadership positions.
According to him, Aron must explain what happened to the money earmarked for the construction of a fire station during her time as mayor.
“She must also be held accountable for the house she built illegally on a plot that was reserved for a public open space. It is because of her that the moratorium was placed on land sales. They did it to undermine development in Okahandja and to push their own deals through,” he said.
According to him, Aron even used dubious ways to get elected by using her business address instead of her residential address.
“She has a bar or shebeen in the Grysblok suburb but she has a big house in town near the park. She mobilised people staying in that area to support her to be elected as district leader now,” he said.
Aron refused to comment on these accusations.
Swapo’s regional coordinator for Otjozondjupa Susan Hikopua confirmed Aron’s election to branch politics but said she could not comment on her history as mayor.
“I don’t know about that [history as mayor], but she went through the elections.”
The Okahandja district coordinator for Swapo Martha Kandiwapa Mwandingi-Simeon also said they cannot stand in Aron’s way.
“It is politics. You know how politics works. If anybody needs a position, then they will work hard to get it. I know people have complained but I have no say. I cannot stop her from standing for elections, she is still a party member,” said Mwandingi-Simeon.
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Former Okahandja mayor Valery Aron was late last year elected as information and mobilisation secretary for the Utoni Nujoma branch in the Okahandja, to the chagrin of a local pressure group.
Basie Tjikune, leader of the group Damage Control Committee, said Aron must be investigated for questionable activities during her turbulent time as mayor.
Aron said there is no link between her return to politics and her time in office.
She was further unmoved by allegations that she ran the town into the ground.
“I did not fail as mayor. How can they say I failed as mayor? If you have questions about development, then it should be directed towards those who are at the helm of the local authority. There is a mayor now, you can ask him about the progress of development of the town,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tjikune said it is unacceptable for the ruling party to allow Aron, with her questionable history as mayor, to vie for leadership positions.
According to him, Aron must explain what happened to the money earmarked for the construction of a fire station during her time as mayor.
“She must also be held accountable for the house she built illegally on a plot that was reserved for a public open space. It is because of her that the moratorium was placed on land sales. They did it to undermine development in Okahandja and to push their own deals through,” he said.
According to him, Aron even used dubious ways to get elected by using her business address instead of her residential address.
“She has a bar or shebeen in the Grysblok suburb but she has a big house in town near the park. She mobilised people staying in that area to support her to be elected as district leader now,” he said.
Aron refused to comment on these accusations.
Swapo’s regional coordinator for Otjozondjupa Susan Hikopua confirmed Aron’s election to branch politics but said she could not comment on her history as mayor.
“I don’t know about that [history as mayor], but she went through the elections.”
The Okahandja district coordinator for Swapo Martha Kandiwapa Mwandingi-Simeon also said they cannot stand in Aron’s way.
“It is politics. You know how politics works. If anybody needs a position, then they will work hard to get it. I know people have complained but I have no say. I cannot stop her from standing for elections, she is still a party member,” said Mwandingi-Simeon.
[email protected]
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