Hardap to march against Wambo

Hardap residents from at least eight towns and villages are planning a protest march to the regional council's headquarters in Mariental tomorrow to once again demand that regional councillor Edward Wambo be removed from office. This comes exactly a month after they have petitioned Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa in Windhoek to take steps against the Swapo councillor whom residents claim is “lawless” and exacting “indiscreet” influences” on various council offices.“We want sound, effective, confident, honest leadership. Not what we have and experience now. The Namibian nation, government and the Swapo Party must hear our voices loud and clear,” said an organiser of the protest march, Bartolomeus Pieters. He said the petitioners want to walk to the regional council office at Mariental to tell Wambo “exactly what we think of him”. “Unlawfulness, disorder and ill-discipline will and cannot be tolerated. Enough is enough,” he said. Residents from Kalkrand, Aranos, Hoachanas, Stampriet, Gochas, Rehoboth, Mariental and Daweb are anticipated to participate in the march. A joint community meeting was also held at Rehoboth's Block E last Sunday where residents registered their displeasure with the Rehoboth Town Council and Wambo, whom they have christened as a “tourist” in his constituency. They have also lashed out at council employee, Willie Swartz, who stands accused of embezzlement. On this charge he was suspended for one day by the chief executive officer Chris /Uirab but the majority Swapo council then stepped in the next day and reinstated him. Opposition councillor of the United People's Movement (UPM), Lennie Pienaar, yesterday said the a legal opinion obtained from Shaningwa's office is that Swartz is no longer in the employment of the council. Swartz, however, remains at the office and is currently serving as the acting CEO while /Uirab is on leave.According to Pienaar the Swapo councillors at a questionably constituted council meeting had installed Swartz as the “permanent acting CEO” if the CEO is not in office.The Rehoboth community at the Sunday meeting charged that Swartz is “under the protection” of the four Swapo councillors and has become “untouchable” and threatened to remove him forcibly if steps are not taken against him. CATHERINE SASMAN

Hardap to march against Wambo

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Hardap to march against Wambo

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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