CoD Usakos Councillor quits

ONE of the two newly elected Congress of Democrats Councillors at Usakos, Loot Dwinger has resigned.

Dwinger confirmed his resignation to The Namibian yesterday, saying his main reason was that Council matters started taking too much of his full-time job as fitter and turner at the Navachab gold mine. He handed his resignation on Friday.Speaking from Navachab yesterday, Dwinger said he had not been informed of meetings 72 hours in advance as required.He noted an example last week when his wife was informed on Thursday afternoon of a meeting starting at 09h00 on Friday.”I was working until 03h00 on Friday and my wife had to wake me up for the meeting a few hours later.”Dwinger also said since his election in the Local Authority elections in May he had to put in six days of leave at work.”The mine does not give me special leave to attend meetings.Although Council matters should enjoy my priority, I decided my work was suffering from it.My work is putting bread on my table.”Dwinger’s decision to resign was also influenced by a meeting on Friday with the Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Municipalities, which was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing.According to Dwinger there was a disagreement between him and the PS over a suggestion he had made regarding an issue that would affect all residents.”I decided there and then it was not going to work for me,” said Dwinger.The Usakos CEO, Sebastiaan !Gobs did not want to comment on his resignation saying Council took a resolution that only the Mayor would in future talk to the media.The Mayor, Renathe Namases said she had been away for a couple of days and had not yet been brought up to speed with all the latest developments.Dwinger said he had not received any reply or recognition of his resignation from the CEO or Council.He handed his resignation on Friday.Speaking from Navachab yesterday, Dwinger said he had not been informed of meetings 72 hours in advance as required.He noted an example last week when his wife was informed on Thursday afternoon of a meeting starting at 09h00 on Friday.”I was working until 03h00 on Friday and my wife had to wake me up for the meeting a few hours later.”Dwinger also said since his election in the Local Authority elections in May he had to put in six days of leave at work.”The mine does not give me special leave to attend meetings.Although Council matters should enjoy my priority, I decided my work was suffering from it.My work is putting bread on my table.”Dwinger’s decision to resign was also influenced by a meeting on Friday with the Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Municipalities, which was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing.According to Dwinger there was a disagreement between him and the PS over a suggestion he had made regarding an issue that would affect all residents.”I decided there and then it was not going to work for me,” said Dwinger.The Usakos CEO, Sebastiaan !Gobs did not want to comment on his resignation saying Council took a resolution that only the Mayor would in future talk to the media.The Mayor, Renathe Namases said she had been away for a couple of days and had not yet been brought up to speed with all the latest developments.Dwinger said he had not received any reply or recognition of his resignation from the CEO or Council.