Okahandja Mayor, council to stay put

OKAHANDJA Mayor Citto Paulus retained her office after an election on Friday, as did the rest of the town council’s management committee.

This was despite an attempt last week by a Swapo faction to boot the representatives as council members. Swapo holds four seats on the seven-member council.Before the election, the members of the so-called Concerned Group were seen in the council building but according to sources, they left shortly before the swearing-in ceremony.Councillors arrived with a Police escort, and the Police maintained a presence outside the council building.The ruling party at the town has been openly divided since before Local Authority elections in 2004, when party candidates had to be selected for the Okahandja council.Since a group perceived to be sympathetic to Hidipo Hamutenya was elected, the Concerned Group faction, said to be Nujoma loyalists, has been trying to oust them.Last week, this same group tried to halt the election by approaching the town’s magistrate to stall the election while the party ostensibly ‘ironed out’ its issues.Their request was rejected as out of keeping with the law.Asked by The Namibian on Thursday whether the Concerned Group had other plans to remove the sitting council representatives, Swapo District Co-ordinator Selma Gaweses-Shimbuli was upset that this newspaper had her telephone number and said she was not in a position to discuss the matter further.On Thursday, Mayor Paulus officially handed over a contract worth N$1,2 million to New Power Electric for the provision of electricity infrastructure and public lighting for the town’s informal areas of Oshetu, Saamstaan and Five Rand Camp.At the occasion Paulus said it did not take “intellectual brilliance” to recognise the efforts the Council was making to bring development to especially the previously disadvantaged communities.”The council will tirelessly accelerate its efforts of trying to lobby for meaningful development to our city and in order to reach our goals I call upon all of us to desist from all forms of corrupt practices and embrace the system of good governance and accountability as our President is telling us,” said Paulus.In the coming year, the Council plans to build more houses to alleviate the housing shortage, build a new cemetery, repair streets at a cost of N$1,5 million and transform the Single Quarters into a modern housing complex with an open market at the cost of N$5 million.Today is the last day for councils around the country to swear in new mayors and deputies.In terms of the Local Authority Act, they only serve one year in office, while councillors serve for five years.Swapo holds four seats on the seven-member council.Before the election, the members of the so-called Concerned Group were seen in the council building but according to sources, they left shortly before the swearing-in ceremony.Councillors arrived with a Police escort, and the Police maintained a presence outside the council building.The ruling party at the town has been openly divided since before Local Authority elections in 2004, when party candidates had to be selected for the Okahandja council.Since a group perceived to be sympathetic to Hidipo Hamutenya was elected, the Concerned Group faction, said to be Nujoma loyalists, has been trying to oust them.Last week, this same group tried to halt the election by approaching the town’s magistrate to stall the election while the party ostensibly ‘ironed out’ its issues.Their request was rejected as out of keeping with the law.Asked by The Namibian on Thursday whether the Concerned Group had other plans to remove the sitting council representatives, Swapo District Co-ordinator Selma Gaweses-Shimbuli was upset that this newspaper had her telephone number and said she was not in a position to discuss the matter further.On Thursday, Mayor Paulus officially handed over a contract worth N$1,2 million to New Power Electric for the provision of electricity infrastructure and public lighting for the town’s informal areas of Oshetu, Saamstaan and Five Rand Camp.At the occasion Paulus said it did not take “intellectual brilliance” to recognise the efforts the Council was making to bring development to especially the previously disadvantaged communities.”The council will tirelessly accelerate its efforts of trying to lobby for meaningful development to our city and in order to reach our goals I call upon all of us to desist from all forms of corrupt practices and embrace the system of good governance and accountability as our President is telling us,” said Paulus.In the coming year, the Council plans to build more houses to alleviate the housing shortage, build a new cemetery, repair streets at a cost of N$1,5 million and transform the Single Quarters into a modern housing complex with an open market at the cost of N$5 million.Today is the last day for councils around the country to swear in new mayors and deputies.In terms of the Local Authority Act, they only serve one year in office, while councillors serve for five years.