Councillors recalled from parliament accused of ‘inappropiate behaviour’

Two councillors from the Oshikoto region who were recently recalled from the National Council (NC) were allegedly removed due to inappropriate behaviour.

This is according to a report leaked from a special management committee meeting of the Oshikoto Regional Council.

Omutele constituency councillor Sakeus Nangula and Olukonda constituency councillor Philemon Ndjambula were removed at a meeting to elect members of the Oshikoto Regional Council’s membership committee.

The duo was removed towards the end of last month and replaced by councillor Gottlieb ‘Gotty’ Ndjendjela and his Onayena counterpart, Mateus Kamati, as members of the NC.

At the time, sources from the region claimed the two councillors were removed because they supported Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in her bid for a second term as Swapo vice president at the party’s elective congress in November last year.

“The two members have publicly opposed the Oshikoto Regional Council’s report in the National Council, which is testimony that the two members are against their own region,” part of the report read. The report claims the two councillors are not cooperating with council members, and that their behaviour is improper and puts the name of the Oshikoto Regional Council in disrepute.

Nangula this week said he had no comment on the allegations contained in the report, while Ndjambula said he was not aware of the report.

Earlier this month, NC secretary Tousy Namiseb wrote to the Oshikoto Regional Council, saying he would not accept Ndjendjela’s and Kamati’s membership of the NC.

He said the two were not properly elected, and as a result would not be allowed to take the prescribed oath as members of parliament.

Namiseb said this in his letter to Oshikoto chief regional officer Christella Mwenyo on Monday.

He wrote: “Kindly notify honourable Gottlieb Ndjendjela and honourable Mateus Kamati not to report to the National Council, as they will not be received or allowed to take the prescribed oath as they are not properly elected and are [not] members of the National Council.”

The secretary to the NC said Nangula’s and Ndjambula’s membership of the NC remains intact, and they should continue to carry out their duties as such.

Namiseb said he is unable to accept the duo’s recall as they have not procedurally been removed as members of parliament.

He said members of parliament can only be replaced if they die, resign or are disqualified as per Article 70 (2) of the Constitution.

“The regional council is not empowered to recall them under the prevailing circumstances,” he wrote.

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