If Government cannot do anything to bring these groups to book, then the ruling party, Swapo, will certainly have a role to play since in all cases, their supporters are involved in all sides of the conflicts.

In Otjiwarongo, the Police this week called off a community meeting before it began, as it appeared that emotions had reached boiling point and could spill over into violence.

In the wake of this, concerned residents organised a meeting, only to have the Municipality send out vehicles with loudhailers to announce the meeting had been cancelled.

On Thursday night, the Municipality in turn was due to hold a meeting, and again there was a strong possibility that this in turn would be disrupted by members of the 'concerned group'.

There was talk that a delegation from the Office of the Prime Minister would be sent to Otjiwarongo in an attempt to mediate the conflict, and whether this provides a temporary solution or not, Swapo head office still needs to bring its supporters to order and investigate thoroughly the background leading up to the conflict.

There is no point in the regional structures investigating something in which the Otjiwarongo mayor is involved.

He is also the party's regional co-ordinator and cannot probe his own activities.

Although some have indicated the conflict has tribal roots, our own investigations reveal that this is not the issue.

It is more a question of a divided group of Swapo supporters fighting over allegations of enrichment schemes said to benefit some and not others; and accusations that the Town Council is targeting those who oppose their actions.

The situation in Okahandja is not dissimilar.

Corruption, or at least allegations of corruption, seem to lie at the root of the problems, both in this town and Otjiwarongo.

The claims of greed and graft have exacerbated tensions in both these towns and it is high time some intervention at a high level is brought into being.

Both situations have reached the point where superficial solutions will not provide the answer, and so there is a need for Government and/or Swapo to send neutral teams to probe the root causes of the disputes.

In Okahandja, a similarly named 'concerned group' has marched and handed over a petition, also demanding the removal of certain councillors on grounds of self-enrichment, and again, the situation there has not been brought under control.

Swapo has a stake in the dispute because much of the controversy would seem to be about the way in which the councillors are selected and/or appointed by the ruling party; and these problems date back some time now.

It would seem as though a more open atmosphere, and promises by President Pohamba to tackle head-on the problems of graft and corruption, have given people the impetus to be more vocal in voicing their concerns about these issues, and so the protests and public demonstrations have gained a foothold.

This in itself is not a negative thing, but when matters of this nature are not dealt with speedily, they risk spilling over into violence, something which should be avoided at all costs in both these towns.

While urging both Government or Swapo not to ignore the deepening crises, there is a need also for residents of those towns to exert control over themselves and their actions to avoid any prospect of open violence.

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