New mayor to heal rift in Henties community

THE newly elected Mayor of the coastal resort of Henties Bay, Paulus Iimbambah, has called on residents to unite the town.

“We have to stop referring to “daai kant” (that side) and “hierdie kant” (this side) he told the councillors and more than 30 residents who attended the first meeting of the newly elected Council on Wednesday. “We have all come to Henties Bay and not to two towns, namely Omdel and Henties Bay.”He said the days of boundaries and divisions were over at Henties Bay.”We are all living here as one nation.”The mayor urged his councillors to work very hard together to unite the town through peace and prosperity.”Let’s make this chamber a platform of tackling issues of concern, such as unity, development, security (crime) and the combating of HIV-AIDS, and let’s deliver good services to all our people.”He said the council offices would be open at all times for community input, “so that we have a town of happy residents”.Looking ahead, the mayor said more low-cost housing would be built through funds provided by the Build Together Programme.He said it was also a matter of urgency to upgrade the informal settlement, Oshike-shetu-eta.”In our efforts to improve the hygienic conditions in our settlement, adequate toilet facilities should be installed.”He pointed out that it was important to get the community involved as well.Citing successful community projects that generated income at the town as an example, Iimbambah said more such initiatives were necessary.He said the Tulongeni agricultural project that produced fresh vegetables was one of the strong pillars of the community.He also referred to the Hanganeni fishing project that contributed significantly to the town’s economy, and said Council should ensure that a jetty was built from where ski boats could be launched.In a broadranging statement, the Mayor also praised the Namibian Police whom he said had ensured peace and safety by bringing the crime rate down to an all-time low.On the educational front, he called for a high school to be established.”We can no longer afford to send our kids away to other towns to go to high school.”The newly elected Council consists of three Swapo members, three members of the Civics Association and one UDF member.Swapo holds both the mayor and deputy mayor positions with Christa Kahambundu.The Chairperson of the Management Committee is Monica //Areses (UDF) and the deputy chair is Anton !Nawaseb (Swapo).The other members are Albert Hoffman, Hendrik Veldsman and Anna Hamutenya of Civics.”We have all come to Henties Bay and not to two towns, namely Omdel and Henties Bay.”He said the days of boundaries and divisions were over at Henties Bay.”We are all living here as one nation.”The mayor urged his councillors to work very hard together to unite the town through peace and prosperity.”Let’s make this chamber a platform of tackling issues of concern, such as unity, development, security (crime) and the combating of HIV-AIDS, and let’s deliver good services to all our people.”He said the council offices would be open at all times for community input, “so that we have a town of happy residents”.Looking ahead, the mayor said more low-cost housing would be built through funds provided by the Build Together Programme.He said it was also a matter of urgency to upgrade the informal settlement, Oshike-shetu-eta.”In our efforts to improve the hygienic conditions in our settlement, adequate toilet facilities should be installed.”He pointed out that it was important to get the community involved as well.Citing successful community projects that generated income at the town as an example, Iimbambah said more such initiatives were necessary.He said the Tulongeni agricultural project that produced fresh vegetables was one of the strong pillars of the community.He also referred to the Hanganeni fishing project that contributed significantly to the town’s economy, and said Council should ensure that a jetty was built from where ski boats could be launched.In a broadranging statement, the Mayor also praised the Namibian Police whom he said had ensured peace and safety by bringing the crime rate down to an all-time low.On the educational front, he called for a high school to be established.”We can no longer afford to send our kids away to other towns to go to high school.”The newly elected Council consists of three Swapo members, three members of the Civics Association and one UDF member.Swapo holds both the mayor and deputy mayor positions with Christa Kahambundu.The Chairperson of the Management Committee is Monica //Areses (UDF) and the deputy chair is Anton !Nawaseb (Swapo).The other members are Albert Hoffman, Hendrik Veldsman and Anna Hamutenya of Civics.