No need for regional governors – RUCA
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
A community association in the Kavango East Region says there is no need for regional governors in Namibia, citing that governors replicate the duties of regional councils which leads to power struggles in regions.
According to the Rundu Urban Community Association’s (RUCA) Marcellus Mukuve, who was speaking at a press conference in Rundu on Friday, they have seen a trend of regional governors attempting to fulfil the roles of regional councils, which is a duplication of work.
He said issues pertaining to regional development need to be left in the hands of regional councils.
This creates an issue within regions where the appointed regional governors and the elected regional councillors clash as far as power and authority is concerned, Mukuve added.
He further argued that because the regional governors are not elected members of the community but rather appointed by the head of state, their allegiance is focused on pleasing the appointing authority instead of the masses who yearn for development.
Do away with them
“We can do away with governors’ offices and empower the regional council chairpersons to do the functions,” Mukuve said.
He also spoke on the issue of decisions being taken by regional governors which are detached from the appointing authority, referencing Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo’s recent appointment of Chinese businessman Charlie Min Xie as one of his advisors on development.
While Wakudumo made a U-turn on his decision following public outcry, Mukuve said he assumes President Hage Geingob must have been aware of the decision.
“I don’t know whether he was informed but there is nothing a governor can do without informing the appointing authority. So, one can assume that this decision was known to the high office,” Mukuve said.
He added that Wakudumo should have consulted the regional council and the masses prior to taking such a decision.
“We need the expatriates to share their experience. If this thing was communicated in the right way, I don’t see it having created a problem because we need the experience from the outsiders,” Mukuve said.
[email protected]
RUNDU
A community association in the Kavango East Region says there is no need for regional governors in Namibia, citing that governors replicate the duties of regional councils which leads to power struggles in regions.
According to the Rundu Urban Community Association’s (RUCA) Marcellus Mukuve, who was speaking at a press conference in Rundu on Friday, they have seen a trend of regional governors attempting to fulfil the roles of regional councils, which is a duplication of work.
He said issues pertaining to regional development need to be left in the hands of regional councils.
This creates an issue within regions where the appointed regional governors and the elected regional councillors clash as far as power and authority is concerned, Mukuve added.
He further argued that because the regional governors are not elected members of the community but rather appointed by the head of state, their allegiance is focused on pleasing the appointing authority instead of the masses who yearn for development.
Do away with them
“We can do away with governors’ offices and empower the regional council chairpersons to do the functions,” Mukuve said.
He also spoke on the issue of decisions being taken by regional governors which are detached from the appointing authority, referencing Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo’s recent appointment of Chinese businessman Charlie Min Xie as one of his advisors on development.
While Wakudumo made a U-turn on his decision following public outcry, Mukuve said he assumes President Hage Geingob must have been aware of the decision.
“I don’t know whether he was informed but there is nothing a governor can do without informing the appointing authority. So, one can assume that this decision was known to the high office,” Mukuve said.
He added that Wakudumo should have consulted the regional council and the masses prior to taking such a decision.
“We need the expatriates to share their experience. If this thing was communicated in the right way, I don’t see it having created a problem because we need the experience from the outsiders,” Mukuve said.
[email protected]
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