10 residents’ associations vie for Local Authority positions

A RECORD 10 residents’ associations today take on the challenge of trying to unseat political parties in Local Authority elections.

Otavi, Gobabis and Rehoboth are the only towns to have been under the control of a civic organisation since the 1999 elections, when eight residents’ associations competed against six political parties. In other towns where residents’ associations have participated in elections, including Windhoek, they have, to date, only managed to obtain one council seat.But in Windhoek this year, a second residents’ association – Ada /Gui – will be running for seats on the council.At present the Local Community Association holds one seat on the city council.While little is known about how most of these civic associations plan to run the councils, Ada /Gui has been very visible and proactive in promoting what it stands for during the past year.The organisation represents largely pensioners and the destitute from the Goreangab, Khomasdal and Katutura communities and, on numerous occasions, has clashed with the City, particularly on issues of water cuts and house evictions for the non-payment of bills.”This intransigence makes the people question the real motives and integrity of the members of Council who make such cruel decisions.Can we vote for someone who approves the disconnection of water to the poor,” Ada /Gui wrote in an open letter to the Mayor, Matheus Shikongo, in March.The organisation argued that cutting the water supply to the destitute was affecting public health and personal hygiene.As its last agenda item before concluding business last month, the council set out its views on the demands of Ada /Gui.The organisation had requested a minimum lifeline of free water for pensioners and destitute people and demanded that the City stop cutting off water for non-payment.But the council decided that the complaints lodged by Ada /Gui could not be handled at a technical level, “because they ultimately have to do with fundamental issues of poverty, unemployment and social welfare”.In a formal written reply to the organisation, the council described the complaints as being of a political nature.For this reason, it said, the Mayor would take up the issue with the Ministries of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, Health and Social Services and water utility, NamWater.The City maintains that its water prices are dictated by charges imposed by NamWater for bulk water supply, the maintenance of underground network of water pipes to households and the costs of running the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant.As such, it says, it cannot provide free water.”The City submits that given the above situation the current charges for water levied against residents are the lowest the City can provide under the circumstances.Further reduction in prices would not be sustainable to the City,” council said.The City says cutting off supplies for non-payment is in accordance with its Credit Control Policy and that, as a responsible institution, it should make sure that the City is run on sound business principles.In other towns where residents’ associations have participated in elections, including Windhoek, they have, to date, only managed to obtain one council seat.But in Windhoek this year, a second residents’ association – Ada /Gui – will be running for seats on the council.At present the Local Community Association holds one seat on the city council.While little is known about how most of these civic associations plan to run the councils, Ada /Gui has been very visible and proactive in promoting what it stands for during the past year.The organisation represents largely pensioners and the destitute from the Goreangab, Khomasdal and Katutura communities and, on numerous occasions, has clashed with the City, particularly on issues of water cuts and house evictions for the non-payment of bills.”This intransigence makes the people question the real motives and integrity of the members of Council who make such cruel decisions.Can we vote for someone who approves the disconnection of water to the poor,” Ada /Gui wrote in an open letter to the Mayor, Matheus Shikongo, in March.The organisation argued that cutting the water supply to the destitute was affecting public health and personal hygiene.As its last agenda item before concluding business last month, the council set out its views on the demands of Ada /Gui.The organisation had requested a minimum lifeline of free water for pensioners and destitute people and demanded that the City stop cutting off water for non-payment.But the council decided that the complaints lodged by Ada /Gui could not be handled at a technical level, “because they ultimately have to do with fundamental issues of poverty, unemployment and social welfare”.In a formal written reply to the organisation, the council described the complaints as being of a political nature.For this reason, it said, the Mayor would take up the issue with the Ministries of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, Health and Social Services and water utility, NamWater.The City maintains that its water prices are dictated by charges imposed by NamWater for bulk water supply, the maintenance of underground network of water pipes to households and the costs of running the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant.As such, it says, it cannot provide free water.”The City submits that given the above situation the current charges for water levied against residents are the lowest the City can provide under the circumstances.Further reduction in prices would not be sustainable to the City,” council said.The City says cutting off supplies for non-payment is in accordance with its Credit Control Policy and that, as a responsible institution, it should make sure that the City is run on sound business principles.