Oshakati, Ondangwa told to clean up act

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma on Sunday praised the Ongwediva town leadership, saying that the town stood out as “one of the many success stories” of development and progress brought about by Swapo Party councillors.

The President was in town to whip up support for ruling party candidates ahead of Friday’s Local Authority elections. “When the first Local Authority elections were held in 1992, Ongwediva was a small settlement without local authority structures.But today Ongwediva is leading the way in the growth and sustainable management of local authorities in Namibia, especially by being the cleanest town among many,” Nujoma said.As glowing as he was in his praise of Ongwediva, he heaped criticism on Oshakati and Ondangwa.”I want to tell the Oshakati Mayor and his councillors that Oshakati is dirty, with water in pools in the town and that brings malaria.And to the Ondangwa Mayor and his councillors: please look at your town, it is dirty with many papers lying around the town – please take up the good example of the Ongwediva Town Council who managed to keep this town clean and developing,” he said.The President also lashed out at those street vendors who did not want to obey Ongwediva Council regulations to sell at the Open Market.He cautioned them “to do so from now on”.Introducing the Swapo candidates for Ongwediva, the President said this would now end the infighting which had beset the nomination process at the town.Ironically, the majority of councillors praised by the President for putting Ongwediva on the map were ousted during controversial selection procedures.”When the first Local Authority elections were held in 1992, Ongwediva was a small settlement without local authority structures.But today Ongwediva is leading the way in the growth and sustainable management of local authorities in Namibia, especially by being the cleanest town among many,” Nujoma said.As glowing as he was in his praise of Ongwediva, he heaped criticism on Oshakati and Ondangwa.”I want to tell the Oshakati Mayor and his councillors that Oshakati is dirty, with water in pools in the town and that brings malaria.And to the Ondangwa Mayor and his councillors: please look at your town, it is dirty with many papers lying around the town – please take up the good example of the Ongwediva Town Council who managed to keep this town clean and developing,” he said.The President also lashed out at those street vendors who did not want to obey Ongwediva Council regulations to sell at the Open Market.He cautioned them “to do so from now on”.Introducing the Swapo candidates for Ongwediva, the President said this would now end the infighting which had beset the nomination process at the town.Ironically, the majority of councillors praised by the President for putting Ongwediva on the map were ousted during controversial selection procedures.