CoD Usakos branch withdraws councillors

THE Usakos branch of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) yesterday petitioned the Usakos Town Council for the immediate removal of two CoD councillors – Salome Pietersen (Mayor) and Veronika Weskop (Management Committee member).

The call follows a notice by the CoD on Monday that all co-operation between Swapo and the CoD at Usakos had been terminated immediately. According to CoD’s Usakos branch Chairman, Willem Gauchab, the relationship that had existed between the two parties ended up harming the image of the CoD and its members.The reasons, according to Gauchab, were that Pietersen and Weskop were allegedly being manipulated by Swapo council members.As a result, they did not contribute to constructive deliberations during management and council meetings.The two councillors also allegedly never discussed issues related to the administration, management and operations of the Usakos Town Council with the CoD’s Usakos Branch Executive Committee.”We are worried that CoD political confidential matters and strategies are constantly shared with Swapo members in council,” Gauchab said.He further accused Pietersen and Weskop of not attending meetings of the local branch, depriving the party of information on community matters.”We have officially announced a ‘Vote of no confidence’ in Swapo and the current local authority councillors as from July 30,” Gauchab said.A letter addressed to Usakos CEO Josef Jantze stated that the CoD declared the Town Council “unoperational” until new office bearers were elected in terms of the Local Authorities Act.”Failing to adhere to this will force us to call a by-election through the Ministry of Local Government as per provision of the law,” the letter said.Jantze confirmed that he had received the letter and said he would make sure that the relevant authorities received it.Mayor Pietersen was not present when the petition was handed over.She had to attend a funeral.The Namibian tried to contact Weskop for comment, but she was not available.According to CoD’s Usakos branch Chairman, Willem Gauchab, the relationship that had existed between the two parties ended up harming the image of the CoD and its members.The reasons, according to Gauchab, were that Pietersen and Weskop were allegedly being manipulated by Swapo council members.As a result, they did not contribute to constructive deliberations during management and council meetings.The two councillors also allegedly never discussed issues related to the administration, management and operations of the Usakos Town Council with the CoD’s Usakos Branch Executive Committee.”We are worried that CoD political confidential matters and strategies are constantly shared with Swapo members in council,” Gauchab said.He further accused Pietersen and Weskop of not attending meetings of the local branch, depriving the party of information on community matters.”We have officially announced a ‘Vote of no confidence’ in Swapo and the current local authority councillors as from July 30,” Gauchab said.A letter addressed to Usakos CEO Josef Jantze stated that the CoD declared the Town Council “unoperational” until new office bearers were elected in terms of the Local Authorities Act.”Failing to adhere to this will force us to call a by-election through the Ministry of Local Government as per provision of the law,” the letter said.Jantze confirmed that he had received the letter and said he would make sure that the relevant authorities received it.Mayor Pietersen was not present when the petition was handed over.She had to attend a funeral.The Namibian tried to contact Weskop for comment, but she was not available.