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05:16Last update on: 12 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Mon 12 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
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NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-08-12
Keetmanshoop works on damning report
Luqman Cloete
THE Keetmanshoop Town Council has taken drastic measures to implement the findings of the ministerial report which concluded that there was disharmony between councillors and administrators.
The report, released in May this year, revealed that the council had lost focus and had failed to strengthen statutory institutions to deliver services to the people and to develop the town because of endless power struggles, factionalism and division among councillors.
The report further found that councillors interferred with the administration of the council and that there were no channels of communication between the council and the local community.
According to the report, the town lacks expertise such as town engineers and planners and that the staff and salary structures were outdated while management and council held less meetings than the prescribed number.
The report also highlighted that the council had failed to delegate some of its powers to the administrative staff.
The ministerial team said it had found enough reasons to justify a recommendation that the council be dissolved. However, the team recommended that council should be given a second chance to remedy shortcomings pointed out in the report within six months.
In a memo dated 30 July addressed to the town’s mayor, Moses Titus, the council chief executive officer, Hermanus Losper reported that council had authorised him to approve trips for the councillors and staff as recommended by the ministerial report.
Losper added that council had also delegated him some powers without giving details on what those powers are.
The ministerial report criticised the council for not delegating powers to senior staff, highlighting that this was the cause of conflict as officials try to decide on the daily activities of their departments while the councillors see these decisions as unauthorised actions.
“While councillors are legally correct, it is an omission that should not have been allowed to go on for so long and needs to be corrected as a matter of urgency,” the report recommended.
Losper also stated in the memo that the council now convenes meetings as required by the law and is working to implement a new staff and salary structure while filling the vacant positions.
“Political interference by councillors in administration issues has changed drastically but it has come to light that staff members are the ones who approach councillors on administration matters,” Losper said.
A source within council accused Titus of being the “author” of the document which delegated powers with the view to “purge” dissident staff members from the tender board.
Titus acknowledged the memo but said it has yet to be sent to the line minister, Charles Namoloh.
The report, released in May this year, revealed that the council had lost focus and had failed to strengthen statutory institutions to deliver services to the people and to develop the town because of endless power struggles, factionalism and division among councillors.
The report further found that councillors interferred with the administration of the council and that there were no channels of communication between the council and the local community.
According to the report, the town lacks expertise such as town engineers and planners and that the staff and salary structures were outdated while management and council held less meetings than the prescribed number.
The report also highlighted that the council had failed to delegate some of its powers to the administrative staff.
The ministerial team said it had found enough reasons to justify a recommendation that the council be dissolved. However, the team recommended that council should be given a second chance to remedy shortcomings pointed out in the report within six months.
In a memo dated 30 July addressed to the town’s mayor, Moses Titus, the council chief executive officer, Hermanus Losper reported that council had authorised him to approve trips for the councillors and staff as recommended by the ministerial report.
Losper added that council had also delegated him some powers without giving details on what those powers are.
The ministerial report criticised the council for not delegating powers to senior staff, highlighting that this was the cause of conflict as officials try to decide on the daily activities of their departments while the councillors see these decisions as unauthorised actions.
“While councillors are legally correct, it is an omission that should not have been allowed to go on for so long and needs to be corrected as a matter of urgency,” the report recommended.
Losper also stated in the memo that the council now convenes meetings as required by the law and is working to implement a new staff and salary structure while filling the vacant positions.
“Political interference by councillors in administration issues has changed drastically but it has come to light that staff members are the ones who approach councillors on administration matters,” Losper said.
A source within council accused Titus of being the “author” of the document which delegated powers with the view to “purge” dissident staff members from the tender board.
Titus acknowledged the memo but said it has yet to be sent to the line minister, Charles Namoloh.
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(August 12)
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