Otjiwarongo Council accused of racial discrimination

I want to register my shocking experience and [the report of] racial discrimination in your newspaper.

It is with shock and dismay that I came to learn that the Otjiwarongo Constituency Development Committee members are Otjiherero-speaking only while representing the multi-racial town of Otjiwarongo. They do not represent the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Women Affairs, Basic Education or the teachers resource centre and the communities of the formerly disadvantaged.On the basis of these considerations, the question remains of who these members are representing? Themselves or the community, and if the community, which community? Why is there one tribe that is dominant on this committee? There are active community church leaders who can represent the community regardless of their racial backgrounds.Yet we are talking of empowering a community while the community is not informed about the funds that are being allocated for the year or the projects being funded or any such other things.Currently these funds – which should be going to the community and projects – are being wasted and squandered and a lot of people and projects could benefit from this money.This is a form of corruption and it has to be curbed.[We need] transparency and responsibility and a neutral committee should be formed.Concerned Resident.Otjiwarongo Via e-mailThey do not represent the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Women Affairs, Basic Education or the teachers resource centre and the communities of the formerly disadvantaged. On the basis of these considerations, the question remains of who these members are representing? Themselves or the community, and if the community, which community? Why is there one tribe that is dominant on this committee? There are active community church leaders who can represent the community regardless of their racial backgrounds. Yet we are talking of empowering a community while the community is not informed about the funds that are being allocated for the year or the projects being funded or any such other things. Currently these funds – which should be going to the community and projects – are being wasted and squandered and a lot of people and projects could benefit from this money. This is a form of corruption and it has to be curbed. [We need] transparency and responsibility and a neutral committee should be formed. Concerned Resident. Otjiwarongo Via e-mail

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