Councillors squabble as residents suffer
Swapo councillors at Rundu are jockeying for position instead of trying to fix the serious problems at the town, a civic organisation says.
A Rundu civic organisation says the ongoing infighting between Swapo councillors at the town shows that holding a certain position is more important to them than addressing the needs of the masses.
This follows the repeated postponement of the annual election of office-bearers at the town, which was expected to take place last month. The delay is the result of disagreement between the five Swapo councillors over a directive from the party's secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa.
The directive was that the councillors should retain the incumbent office-bearers.
However, some councillors decided otherwise and defied the directive by boycotting the first scheduled election last month.
The SG's instruction to retain Verna Sinimbo, who has served as mayor for the past three years, is said to be the core reason for the infighting.
Rundu Concerned Citizen Association (RCCA) chairperson Reginald Ndara says the infighting demonstrates that the councillors value positions more than the needs of the people.
Ndara, who serves as the RCCA's representative on the town council, says the councillors should shift their focus to the people.
“This is an indication that the Swapo local authority councillors at Rundu are not serious about the execution of their responsibilities, as mandated by the residents.
“Instead of engaging themselves in constructive discussion, in order to find workable solutions to the problems experienced by the residents of Rundu, they are busy fighting amongst themselves for positions,” Ndara said.
“This can only be described as a lack of leadership and management skills on the part of the Swapo councillors of Rundu.”
Ndara argues that residents should be offered municipal services by their elected leaders and not be subjected to observing infighting over positions. Ndara said since the inception of council in 1992, residents have borne the brunt of many problems caused by the Swapo-dominated council.
A second election of office-bearers was scheduled for Monday, but it was again postponed until further notice.
KENYA KAMBOWE
This follows the repeated postponement of the annual election of office-bearers at the town, which was expected to take place last month. The delay is the result of disagreement between the five Swapo councillors over a directive from the party's secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa.
The directive was that the councillors should retain the incumbent office-bearers.
However, some councillors decided otherwise and defied the directive by boycotting the first scheduled election last month.
The SG's instruction to retain Verna Sinimbo, who has served as mayor for the past three years, is said to be the core reason for the infighting.
Rundu Concerned Citizen Association (RCCA) chairperson Reginald Ndara says the infighting demonstrates that the councillors value positions more than the needs of the people.
Ndara, who serves as the RCCA's representative on the town council, says the councillors should shift their focus to the people.
“This is an indication that the Swapo local authority councillors at Rundu are not serious about the execution of their responsibilities, as mandated by the residents.
“Instead of engaging themselves in constructive discussion, in order to find workable solutions to the problems experienced by the residents of Rundu, they are busy fighting amongst themselves for positions,” Ndara said.
“This can only be described as a lack of leadership and management skills on the part of the Swapo councillors of Rundu.”
Ndara argues that residents should be offered municipal services by their elected leaders and not be subjected to observing infighting over positions. Ndara said since the inception of council in 1992, residents have borne the brunt of many problems caused by the Swapo-dominated council.
A second election of office-bearers was scheduled for Monday, but it was again postponed until further notice.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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