Government seeks to diffuse tensions in local authorities

CONFLICT among local authority administrators and councillors prompted the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing to hold a workshop for eight towns on Friday aimed at diffusing tensions.

Local authorities’ prime responsibility of ensuring efficient services for their communities was being compromised by conflict between administrators and councillors, Minister Joel Kaapanda said. “Administrators are supposed to be professional people who are expected to help councillors make informed decisions in carrying out their functions,” he said.”Unnecessary interference by councillors in the work of administrators might compromise the objectivity and professionalism of the administrator.”Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga said the workshop was intended to discuss the individual roles of administrators and councillors and dealing with conflict between them.Okahandja, Okakarara, Usakos, Tsumeb, Karasburg, Opuwo, Arandis and Karibib were each represented by their mayor, town clerk and a councillor from its Management Committee.Tension was evident at the start of the gathering with the representatives from Okahandja choosing not to sit together as did those from other towns.During the opening session, representatives of the towns took the opportunity to share issues viewed as a source of conflict within their administration and their local authorities.These ranged from increasing community involvement in the running of the town’s affairs, as raised by Usakos Chairman of the Management Committee Daniel Stramiss and Rundu Mayor Sabine Mufenda, to dealing with debt collection – a problem raised by Karibib Town Clerk Lourens Hoebeb.Tsumeb Mayor Veueza Kasiringua wanted to know whether councillors had the right to intervene in instances where administrators refused to adopt more efficient practices.”Administrators are supposed to be professional people who are expected to help councillors make informed decisions in carrying out their functions,” he said.”Unnecessary interference by councillors in the work of administrators might compromise the objectivity and professionalism of the administrator.”Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga said the workshop was intended to discuss the individual roles of administrators and councillors and dealing with conflict between them.Okahandja, Okakarara, Usakos, Tsumeb, Karasburg, Opuwo, Arandis and Karibib were each represented by their mayor, town clerk and a councillor from its Management Committee.Tension was evident at the start of the gathering with the representatives from Okahandja choosing not to sit together as did those from other towns.During the opening session, representatives of the towns took the opportunity to share issues viewed as a source of conflict within their administration and their local authorities.These ranged from increasing community involvement in the running of the town’s affairs, as raised by Usakos Chairman of the Management Committee Daniel Stramiss and Rundu Mayor Sabine Mufenda, to dealing with debt collection – a problem raised by Karibib Town Clerk Lourens Hoebeb.Tsumeb Mayor Veueza Kasiringua wanted to know whether councillors had the right to intervene in instances where administrators refused to adopt more efficient practices.