Little hope for suspended councillors
Little hope for suspended councillors

Little hope for suspended councillors

The councillors were suspended because they were unable perform their duties in terms of the Local Authorities Act.
Staff Reporter
KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU



With only three months left before the end of their term, it appears unlikely that six suspended Rundu councillors will return to work.

Asked about their situation at the weekend, urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni said they were replaced by an interim council headed by Sebastian Kantema. Kantema was appointed on a six-month contract in March by the then urban and rural development minister, Peya Mushelenga, who gazetted the suspension notice of the six councillors.

Mushelenga said the councillors were suspended because they were unable perform their duties in terms of the Local Authorities Act.

4 Swapo, 2 others

The suspended councillors are Swapo members Isak Kandingu, who was sworn in as mayor earlier this year; Anastacia Antonio; Toini Hausiku, the wife of Swapo Party deputy secretary-general Marco Hausiku; and Ralf Ihemba; as well as the All People's Party's Mathews Wakudumo and the Rundu Concerned Citizens Association's Reginald Ndara.

One of the council seats remained vacant after Verna Sinimbo's resignation last year ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections. Sinimbo (Swapo) was sworn in as member of the National Assembly and was appointed as deputy minister of trade and industrialisation by President Hage Geingob.



Bluff

Earlier this year, some of the suspended councillors threatened court action against the line ministry if they were not reinstated.

About four months down the line, no court action has been taken.

When contacted for comment, Kandingu said they were still waiting for the ministry to respond to their letter.

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-08

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