Kantema bows out
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
The urban and rural development ministry's representative on the Rundu town council, Sebastian Kantema, says he is leaving the cash-strapped local authority on a high note.
Friday was Kantema's last day at the helm of the council.
Kantema was appointed by the former minister of urban and rural development, Peya Mushelenga, in March after he suspended all the councillors because of non-performance. A new council was sworn in on 2 December.
Mission accomplished
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Kantema said he had no regrets after serving as the head of the local authority, which over the years had failed to deliver services to residents. Kantema said he managed to revive the refuse-removal programme and ensured that public toilets were built and water was supplied to unserviced areas.
“Now everybody knows that the rubbish will be collected on Monday or Tuesday. I am leaving the town council with that programme and if they maintain it, the inhabitants of Rundu will be happy,” Kantema said.
“We also managed to buy 500 dustbins and if they can add to that, we will move forward.
“Secondly, I am leaving this council as a proud person because for the first time we built two public toilets - one is at Tuhafeni and one at the back of SPAR.
“The third thing … is the water pressure at Ndama, because when I entered into this office the pipes were not working and the people were suffering. We rerouted the line and they now have water there.
“Currently there is a project running to improve the water pipelines from Nkarapamwe Dam.”
Motivated staff
Kantema added that he was able to motivate the council staff - something he hopes the incoming councillors will emulate.
“The last thing I could say was to unify and motivate staff to perform. That to me is a very serious and important issue because whatever one does, if you do not have the support of the staff to perform their duties, you will not succeed. We succeeded and we had meetings and they had trust in me.
“I am leaving the council with a motivated staff and if the incoming councillors can continue motivating, knowing the interface between the administrative office bearers and political office bearers, if that interface can be maintained we believe we will improve the rendering the services to the residents of Rundu,” Kantema said.
[email protected]
RUNDU
The urban and rural development ministry's representative on the Rundu town council, Sebastian Kantema, says he is leaving the cash-strapped local authority on a high note.
Friday was Kantema's last day at the helm of the council.
Kantema was appointed by the former minister of urban and rural development, Peya Mushelenga, in March after he suspended all the councillors because of non-performance. A new council was sworn in on 2 December.
Mission accomplished
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Kantema said he had no regrets after serving as the head of the local authority, which over the years had failed to deliver services to residents. Kantema said he managed to revive the refuse-removal programme and ensured that public toilets were built and water was supplied to unserviced areas.
“Now everybody knows that the rubbish will be collected on Monday or Tuesday. I am leaving the town council with that programme and if they maintain it, the inhabitants of Rundu will be happy,” Kantema said.
“We also managed to buy 500 dustbins and if they can add to that, we will move forward.
“Secondly, I am leaving this council as a proud person because for the first time we built two public toilets - one is at Tuhafeni and one at the back of SPAR.
“The third thing … is the water pressure at Ndama, because when I entered into this office the pipes were not working and the people were suffering. We rerouted the line and they now have water there.
“Currently there is a project running to improve the water pipelines from Nkarapamwe Dam.”
Motivated staff
Kantema added that he was able to motivate the council staff - something he hopes the incoming councillors will emulate.
“The last thing I could say was to unify and motivate staff to perform. That to me is a very serious and important issue because whatever one does, if you do not have the support of the staff to perform their duties, you will not succeed. We succeeded and we had meetings and they had trust in me.
“I am leaving the council with a motivated staff and if the incoming councillors can continue motivating, knowing the interface between the administrative office bearers and political office bearers, if that interface can be maintained we believe we will improve the rendering the services to the residents of Rundu,” Kantema said.
[email protected]
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