Regional and Local Government Law: Part 3

Lack of boldness Most council members believe in nothing better than what is there. They have no vision for the regions and towns although they travel the whole world for capacity building and partnership. Our council members have been to China, Denmark, Dubai, Germany and many other countries where the word “impossible” is almost not known. Yet ask our councillors and staff members to come up with an initiative, the word “impossible” leads their thinking. Some of our leaders are scared and do not dare the “impossible”. They dare not regulate land prices. They dare not remove incompetent councillors or staff members. CEO’s without any vision or plan are allowed to serve until the end of their five year contract. It has been stressed over and over again, it requires boldness to lead and to conquer situations. Regulating land price does not require political statements and conferences. It’s boldness that we need, taking control and regulating on an urgent basis before the nation perishes. Black discrimination Before I conclude on the role of the MC, I must briefly touch on two issues that are very frustrating. Unequal treatment and blind leadership. In most cases central government is equally aware of the fact that lokasie residents don’t receive the same treatment as their town brothers and sisters. The lokasie housing designs are inferior in size and structure. Non-compliance with building regulations in the lokasie does not matter although regulations are there for safety reasons. Cemeteries are in a shameful state. Streets are not cleaned. Rubbish is not removed as it is the case in die dorp. The current examples are those of Swakopmund’s DRC and Okahandja. People live in shacks and burn to death each month. Yet, our councillors do not seem to have a sense of urgency and plan to take the masses out of these inhuman structures. Shack fires have been around for many years. Despite all this misery and hardship, we recycle the same people year after year. Same mayor, same governor, same practices. Albert Einstein was seemingly right when he wrote: “ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Unjust compensation I now come to the second issue which is the issue compensation for expropriated land. This subject is especially important to the developing towns. Council members are supposed to be on their guard and well informed. Where they fail in their duties, people suffer. For example, in Katima, Rundu, Ongwediva, Otjinene and other upcoming towns and settlements, people have to make way for “development”. Most, if not all of these people are black and previously disadvantaged. When their massive land is expropriated by regional and town councils, they are paid peanuts. The regional and local authorities are using a cabinet directive on expropriation. This directive requires that the local authorities count the number of fruit trees in a specific field as well as the number and nature of the buildings in the homestead on that particular land parcel. This is shocking and councillors should have picked it up and block it for the following reasons: (a) we don’t count fruit trees, berries, etc. when expropriating commercial farms? (b) buildings in our villages are not the same as those in Rundu and Ongwediva? If we are to evaluate them, we will get minimal value. My case is simple, the current formula used to compensate people is unconstitutional. I am still to find a law in Namibia that authorises this type of insulting formula. Expropriation in Namibia is effected in terms of Article 16 of the Namibian Constitution. That article does not distinguish between ownership in title and occupational rights holders. Any law or directive that suggests otherwise would be offending Article 16. Councillors are supposed to be vigilant and question all types of practices and directives that are to the disadvantage of their people. Hence I opine that, in most cases we are run by people who have no ambition and in most cases, no courage to challenge unfair practices.