Political smear crusade at Usakos spills into streets

THE political rift at the town of Usakos widened on Tuesday when a smear pamphlet with serious allegations against the CoD-UDF coalition and a CoD Councillor was distributed to homes and businesses.

The pamphlet, written in Afrikaans, mainly attacks young community activist Daniel Stramiss who was elected to the Local Authority in the May elections. The 25-year-old led a series of protests against alleged corruption in the Usakos Town Council from July last year under the banner of the Concerned Group.The authors of the pamphlet have chosen to hide behind anonymity and claim to be remaining members of the Concerned Group of Usakos.However, Stramiss claims that Swapo Party members at the town are behind the pamphlet.In essence, the pamphlet claims the Council’s precarious financial situation can be blamed on Stramiss.”He takes decisions in the streets of Usakos in the name of Council without Council’s knowledge,” it alleges.The Usakos Council has struggled with bad debts since last year – before Stramiss was elected.In July, NamWater imposed a 50 per cent cut in water pressure when Council’s debt stood at N$600 000.The Mayor and UDF Councillor, Renathe Namases, said she had not seen the pamphlet.”It is difficult to react without seeing it,” she said.But, she asked:”Why was it not signed – are they cowards? It sounds like a smear campaign to me.”The pamphlet praises Chris Shivolo, Financial Manager of the Municipality, who has been at odds with Stramiss.It claims that he managed to reduce NamPower’s bad debts from N$1,1 million to N$600 000 until Stramiss allegedly started making promises that he would write off resident’s debts.Mention is also made of a controversial study loan of N$15 000 given to Shivolo shortly after he was appointed to the post last year.The Concerned Group at the time raised questions about the legality of the loan.However, the pamphlet, purported to be written by the same group states:”Mr Chris Shivolo received the money for his studies as a loan and did not steal it as some ‘thieves at the Municipality who try to give him a bad name.”Stramiss, who responded to the allegations in writing, claimed the pamphlet was produced by Pihe Hermann, a Swapo Councillor and four other Swapo members.He also reacted vehemently to the charges by phone on Tuesday saying they were “rubbish and pure nonsense”.Stramiss told The Namibian that the allegations would not silence him.”I know the older politicians are scared to speak their minds, but I am a new politician.I am outspoken and not afraid.I have nothing to hide.I do everything according to the Local Authorities Act.”In his written response Stramiss said Swapo had started campaigning for the forthcoming elections and were using his name as an excuse for all the problems at the town.Hermann denied that he was involved in the pamphlet.”I am not a coward and prefer making statements on a public platform,” he contended.He challenged Stramiss to prove that he was the initiator of the pamphlet.Swapo only agreed earlier this month to fill the position of Deputy Mayor in Council – more than two months after the elections.The party was unhappy that the UDF and CoD had formed a coalition which gave it a majority and refused to take the remaining positions until the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing intervened to solve the issue.The 25-year-old led a series of protests against alleged corruption in the Usakos Town Council from July last year under the banner of the Concerned Group.The authors of the pamphlet have chosen to hide behind anonymity and claim to be remaining members of the Concerned Group of Usakos.However, Stramiss claims that Swapo Party members at the town are behind the pamphlet.In essence, the pamphlet claims the Council’s precarious financial situation can be blamed on Stramiss.”He takes decisions in the streets of Usakos in the name of Council without Council’s knowledge,” it alleges.The Usakos Council has struggled with bad debts since last year – before Stramiss was elected.In July, NamWater imposed a 50 per cent cut in water pressure when Council’s debt stood at N$600 000.The Mayor and UDF Councillor, Renathe Namases, said she had not seen the pamphlet.”It is difficult to react without seeing it,” she said.But, she asked:”Why was it not signed – are they cowards? It sounds like a smear campaign to me.”The pamphlet praises Chris Shivolo, Financial Manager of the Municipality, who has been at odds with Stramiss.It claims that he managed to reduce NamPower’s bad debts from N$1,1 million to N$600 000 until Stramiss allegedly started making promises that he would write off resident’s debts.Mention is also made of a controversial study loan of N$15 000 given to Shivolo shortly after he was appointed to the post last year.The Concerned Group at the time raised questions about the legality of the loan.However, the pamphlet, purported to be written by the same group states:”Mr Chris Shivolo received the money for his studies as a loan and did not steal it as some ‘thieves at the Municipality who try to give him a bad name.”Stramiss, who responded to the allegations in writing, claimed the pamphlet was produced by Pihe Hermann, a Swapo Councillor and four other Swapo members.He also reacted vehemently to the charges by phone on Tuesday saying they were “rubbish and pure nonsense”.Stramiss told The Namibian that the allegations would not silence him.”I know the older politicians are scared to speak their minds, but I am a new politician.I am outspoken and not afraid.I have nothing to hide.I do everything according to the Local Authorities Act.”In his written response Stramiss said Swapo had started campaigning for the forthcoming elections and were using his name as an excuse for all the problems at the town.Hermann denied that he was involved in the pamphlet.”I am not a coward and prefer making statements on a public platform,” he contended.He challenged Stramiss to prove that he was the initiator of the pamphlet.Swapo only agreed earlier this month to fill the position of Deputy Mayor in Council – more than two months after the elections.The party was unhappy that the UDF and CoD had formed a coalition which gave it a majority and refused to take the remaining positions until the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing intervened to solve the issue.