City of infighting

The silly season is upon us and it seems we have officially entered the golden age of mudslinging, judging by the factional infighting rocking the City of Windhoek's city council. The city council is deeply divided at the moment, with some councillors questioning the motive to suspend city CEO Robert Kahimise over his contentious N$150 000 study loan approval. At least three city councillors, who are strongly opposed to Kahimise's suspension, believe he is facing persecution from members of the council's management committee and for the role the CEO played in suspending City Police chief Abraham Kanime. In the other corner, management committee member Moses Shiikwa, who is supported by other Swapo councillors, is fighting tooth and nail to have Kanime immediately reinstated, arguing the CEO had no power in the first place to suspend the police chief. Yesterday it was officially confirmed that line minister Peya Mushelenga had directed the city council to suspend Kahimise and allow for an investigation into allegations against him. While it is true that the integrity of elected officials, as well as those occupying top positions in local authorities will always be under scrutiny, it is disconcerting to see a key institution such as the City of Windhoek indulge in repeated squabble. We are in no way condoning the alleged actions of those under fire. But it is the manner in which the authorities are arriving at these suspensions that got us thinking, including the controversial suspension of Kanime in March this year too. It also sad to see municipalities and town councils over the years turned into political power battlegrounds for the political parties, especially Swapo. Sadly, the same politicians are quick to forget their mandate of providing services to those who elected them into power. One is perplexed to ask: why don't they use the same vigour to improve the lives of ordinary Namibians?