Entire Rehoboth council suspended

In a bold move, newly appointed urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga has dropped a bombshell by suspending the entire Rehoboth town council yesterday afternoon following reports of infighting and allegations of maladministration.

The minister cited the ongoing mismanagement, poor service delivery and lack of accountability at the town council, as well as the inability of the council to implement directives from the ministry, as reasons for the swift action.

Deputy urban and rural development minister Derek Klazen delivered the bad news to the Rehoboth top brass just after lunch yesterday.

Mushelenga has appointed former Erongo chief regional officer Nathalia /Goagoses to oversee the council's affairs in the interim.

At the same time Mushelenga reversed the suspension of the town's chief executive officer, Christophe /Uirab.

He had been on suspension since October last year and was replaced by controversial council official Willie Swartz.

/Uirab said he was accepting the minister's decision with a heavy heart.

“I have been home for four months now, my name was tarnished and I have been humiliated. I think we will have to start with clearing my name,” he said.

Mushelenga has warned local authorities against infighting and poor service delivery.

“It must be clear to all local authorities that the ministry, and I as the minister in particular, will take swift action against any local authority whenever discipline, order, harmony and service delivery are at stake and in the interest of the public,” he said.

The minister also stated that the suspension was necessitated because of the visible division among council members with negative consequences.

“I wish to point out that this divisiveness at the political leadership level of the council has unfortunately filtered or cascaded down to the operation levels of the town council and has resulted in conflicts and confrontations and a compromise for lack of service delivery and accountability to members of the public,” he said.





He added that it was immaterial which political party councillors belonged, to or what party had the majority of councillors in the area.

He added that the decision to suspend the Rehoboth council was not politically motivated but done to ensure order and compliance to protect the public.

The town council has been dogged by corruption for the last five years and Mushelenga's predecessor, Sophia Shaningwa, had repeatedly promised to disband the council.

Shaningwa is now the full-time Swapo secretary-general.

The town's residents have over the last five years repeatedly protested and petitioned government to intervene after a forensic investigation had unearthed a string of irregularities.

After the forensic investigation the council was issued with a list of resolutions, including the removal of its human resources manager, Swartz, who was illegally reinstated.

Shaningwa at the time threatened to dissolve the council, should they fail to implement these resolutions.

JEMIMA BEUKES