Leadership vacuum haunts Oshakati council

THE Oshakati Town Council has been struggling to implement projects and render services to the residents, as it does not have a full management committee due to the absence of some councillors.

The council has been operating with an incomplete management committee since December last year after two Swapo Party councillors decided to boycott the election and swearing-in ceremony of office-bearers.

The two councillors are Onesmus Shilunga and Gabriel Kamwanka.

Swapo, however, let them off the hook and did not take any disciplinary action against them. The two councillors were protesting the return of Katrina Shimbulu to the council.

Shimbulu had resigned from the council to contest the National Assembly election in November last year.

She and Loise Shivolo were elected new members of the management committee in the last elections, leaving a vacant position for a third member, who is yet to be nominated by the Swapo Party.

The acting chief executive officer of Oshakati Town Council, Kornelius Kapolo, said the delay to have Kamwaka and Shilunga sworn in is hampering the council’s work.

“I’m not sure when the two councillors will be sworn in. However, we wrote to the magistrate requesting him to have our two councillors sworn in but have not yet received any response. I’m honestly tired and I’m not happy at all with all what is happening at the town council and we can no longer afford to wait.

“We pray and hope that we get some response soonest and allow the council to go ahead with its planned projects and services,” said Kapolo.

Kapolo explained that the council’s management committee has the power to sign off projects, allow the allocation of erven to applicants and advise council officials on pertinent issues.

He added that the council is trying to complete some projects started last year, which include the rehabilitation of roads at Okandjegendi and Onawa settlements and the Oshakati Independence Stadium.

Former chairperson of the management committee Kamwanka said he boycotted the election and swearing-in of office-bearers because he felt that the return of Shimbulu to the council was not done procedurally and he was not happy with how the party allowed her to come back into the council structures.

“I do not know when we will be sworn in but I know it will be very soon. The council needs to move ahead and render the necessary services to the residents without any hindrances. Those in the office should just hurry the process up. We have already been cleared by the party,” he said.

Shilunga echoed the same sentiments, saying the election and swearing-in of office-bearers were not done in line with the party’s constitution.

“I understand that we are yet to be sworn in and we are patiently waiting. The council’s work is now put on hold just because some people are delaying the process to have us sworn in. The party has pronounced itself on the matter and I do not see why there are delays,” he said.

Oshakati mayor Angelius Iiyambo could not be reached for comment.