City intrigue a big yawn
The City of Windhoek, which has not exactly covered itself in glory when it comes to handling its finances and delivering services to residents, including the poorest of the poor, is now a theatre stage for a political drama of epic proportions.
Urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga has now moved centre-stage, giving the green light for the suspension of City CEO Robert Kahimise, over a study loan of all things.
The council had written to Mushelenga seeking his approval for Kahimise's suspension.
The intrigue in the corridors of power has escalated over months, with those close to the matter alleging a tribal war being played out, which is somehow linked to the suspension of City Police chief Abraham Kanime.
This is the same municipality that has been making the news for all the wrong reasons over the years.
With about 2 300 employees and an annual budget of about N$6 billion, the City announced as recently as January it will soon run out of funds to finance basic daily operations, if current financial trends continue.
At the end of December 2017, the City was owed around N$634 million by both private and business residents.
This is the same City which has chosen to dish out land to property developers, amid allegations of political manoeuvring, at the expense of making partially serviced land available to residents, so they can build their homes incrementally, at a much cheaper cost.
It was reported last month that the City plans to construct 1 200 low-cost houses from next year for low-income-earners at an estimated cost of N$148 million.
However, the current housing backlog for low-cost or affordable housing in Windhoek stands at 55 000, according to the affordable housing plan.
It goes without saying that palace intrigue and petty politics will not help Windhoek residents a single iota.
What is required from the City is competency and the political will to tackle the massive service delivery challenges that have been allowed to mushroom into mountains over the years.
Urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga has now moved centre-stage, giving the green light for the suspension of City CEO Robert Kahimise, over a study loan of all things.
The council had written to Mushelenga seeking his approval for Kahimise's suspension.
The intrigue in the corridors of power has escalated over months, with those close to the matter alleging a tribal war being played out, which is somehow linked to the suspension of City Police chief Abraham Kanime.
This is the same municipality that has been making the news for all the wrong reasons over the years.
With about 2 300 employees and an annual budget of about N$6 billion, the City announced as recently as January it will soon run out of funds to finance basic daily operations, if current financial trends continue.
At the end of December 2017, the City was owed around N$634 million by both private and business residents.
This is the same City which has chosen to dish out land to property developers, amid allegations of political manoeuvring, at the expense of making partially serviced land available to residents, so they can build their homes incrementally, at a much cheaper cost.
It was reported last month that the City plans to construct 1 200 low-cost houses from next year for low-income-earners at an estimated cost of N$148 million.
However, the current housing backlog for low-cost or affordable housing in Windhoek stands at 55 000, according to the affordable housing plan.
It goes without saying that palace intrigue and petty politics will not help Windhoek residents a single iota.
What is required from the City is competency and the political will to tackle the massive service delivery challenges that have been allowed to mushroom into mountains over the years.
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