Armed Police seize kindergarten

USAKOS Municipal officials, accompanied by seven armed Police officers in camouflage uniform, seized the multi-purpose community centre-kindergarten at the Hakhaseb Township yesterday.

Chains and seven padlocks were used to lock the complex. The centre, where the leader of the Concerned Group (CG), Daniel Stramiss, works as an administrative officer, has become a point of dispute in a drawn-out battle between the community and the Town Council.Announcements were allegedly made on NBC radio yesterday to inform parents that the kindergarten would not be open from today.The power and water supply to the building has been cut off.The facility accommodates 85 children who mostly come from poor and orphaned households.Since the CG expressed concern over a N$15 000 study loan granted to Municipal Treasurer Chris Shivolo earlier this year, the Municipality has been intent on taking away the centre’s keys from the kindergarten teacher and Stramiss.On Friday, they received a third letter ordering them to hand over the keys by 12h00, as decided by Council at its monthly meeting the previous evening.”Failure to adhere to this request will result in drastic steps being taken,” the letter, signed by CEO Sebastiaan !Gobs, stated.Magdalena Kwandjomudi, the teacher at the kindergarten, immediately responded in writing asking for a meeting instead.The Council responded by calling in Police “protection” and locking up the centre yesterday afternoon.The armed policemen attracted immediate attention, and a large crowd had gathered outside by the time they had all the locks in place.Stramiss told The Namibian that if he had not gone outside to ask the Police why they were there, he would probably have been locked inside.He claimed that the Council resolution was taken under pressure from Shivolo who reportedly proposed that the Police be used to enforce the decision.”When Mayor Michael Goreseb asked who agreed with Shivolo, all the Councillors voted in favour of the resolution.I want to know how it is possible for an administrative official to intervene in a Council meeting?” asked Stramiss.When approached for comment, Shivolo told The Namibian he did not want to say anything.”Why don’t you go and ask them why we want the keys back?” He maintained that Council had to look after its property and claimed that the CG was trying to “put me in a bad light”.It has been alleged that Council has accused the CG of using the centre for “party political purposes”.The CG, which has been vocal in articulating community concerns about Council management, has emphasised on several occasions that they are completely non-political.The centre at Hakhaseb was built with funds provided by the Icelandic International Development Agency (Iceida) in 2001.In terms of an agreement signed between Iceida and the Usakos Council, the Town Council, as the owner of the building, has an obligation to ensure the centre serves the community and provides a pre-school facility.The development came about as a result of the initiative taken by three women from Hakhaseb who started a community kindergarten under a tree in 1999.Gisli Palsson, Iceida country director, on Friday sent a letter to the kindergarten stating that the agreement was still in full effect and should be honoured.It is the second time the Police have been dragged into the conflict.Stramiss was arrested three weeks ago on allegations of trespassing, but was released a day later without being charged.The CG has launched an investigation into the issue with the help of the Legal Assistance Centre.The centre, where the leader of the Concerned Group (CG), Daniel Stramiss, works as an administrative officer, has become a point of dispute in a drawn-out battle between the community and the Town Council.Announcements were allegedly made on NBC radio yesterday to inform parents that the kindergarten would not be open from today.The power and water supply to the building has been cut off.The facility accommodates 85 children who mostly come from poor and orphaned households.Since the CG expressed concern over a N$15 000 study loan granted to Municipal Treasurer Chris Shivolo earlier this year, the Municipality has been intent on taking away the centre’s keys from the kindergarten teacher and Stramiss.On Friday, they received a third letter ordering them to hand over the keys by 12h00, as decided by Council at its monthly meeting the previous evening.”Failure to adhere to this request will result in drastic steps being taken,” the letter, signed by CEO Sebastiaan !Gobs, stated.Magdalena Kwandjomudi, the teacher at the kindergarten, immediately responded in writing asking for a meeting instead.The Council responded by calling in Police “protection” and locking up the centre yesterday afternoon.The armed policemen attracted immediate attention, and a large crowd had gathered outside by the time they had all the locks in place.Stramiss told The Namibian that if he had not gone outside to ask the Police why they were there, he would probably have been locked inside.He claimed that the Council resolution was taken under pressure from Shivolo who reportedly proposed that the Police be used to enforce the decision.”When Mayor Michael Goreseb asked who agreed with Shivolo, all the Councillors voted in favour of the resolution.I want to know how it is possible for an administrative official to intervene in a Council meeting?” asked Stramiss.When approached for comment, Shivolo told The Namibian he did not want to say anything.”Why don’t you go and ask them why we want the keys back?” He maintained that Council had to look after its property and claimed that the CG was trying to “put me in a bad light”.It has been alleged that Council has accused the CG of using the centre for “party political purposes”.The CG, which has been vocal in articulating community concerns about Council management, has emphasised on several occasions that they are completely non-political.The centre at Hakhaseb was built with funds provided by the Icelandic International Development Agency (Iceida) in 2001.In terms of an agreement signed between Iceida and the Usakos Council, the Town Council, as the owner of the building, has an obligation to ensure the centre serves the community and provides a pre-school facility.The development came about as a result of the initiative taken by three women from Hakhaseb who started a community kindergarten under a tree in 1999.Gisli Palsson, Iceida country director, on Friday sent a letter to the kindergarten stating that the agreement was still in full effect and should be honoured.It is the second time the Police have been dragged into the conflict.Stramiss was arrested three weeks ago on allegations of trespassing, but was released a day later without being charged.The CG has launched an investigation into the issue with the help of the Legal Assistance Centre.