Uutoni reads riot act to councillors

TUYEIMO HAIDULA OSHAKATI Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni has told councillors that he cannot babysit them and run local authorities on their behalf.Uutoni was speaking at the opening of an induction workshop for new regional and local authority councillors and administrators at Oshakati yesterday.The five-day workshop is being attended by councillors from the Otjozondjupa and Zambezi regions, as well as the Arandis, Karibib, Khorixas and Opuwo local authorities.It covers topics such as policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, financial and human resources management, powers, duties and responsibilities, code of conduct and standing rules of order, land delivery, decentralisation, housing, public procurement procedures and regulations, relationships between local and traditional authorities, and gender issues. DeliverUutoni said: “Sometimes you want me to come and run the local authorities for you from my office. I cannot do that.”He reminded the councillors of President Hage Geingob’s declaration of 2021 as the Year of Resilience.He also used the platform to warn councillors not to abuse their power and that they should deliver and serve the nation during their five-year terms.“Do not use your offices for personal gain but for the benefit of the public. To decongest and provide land to the people who do not have land,” he said.He advised against local authorities giving away virgin land, saying they are creating more problems than solutions as virgin land is not demarcated.“Khorixas residents are heavily indebted to NamWater. The ministry does not generate income so we cannot pay people’s debts,” Uutoni warned.He once again repeated that informal settlements will be transformed through formalisation, upgrading and the provision of homes for ultra-low-income residents.– tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

Uutoni reads riot act to councillors

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Uutoni reads riot act to councillors

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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