Deputy PM steps into Okahandja fray

DEPUTY Prime Minister Libertina Amathila is set to visit Okahandja tomorrow to set the Council on a path of reconciliation after months of infighting has caused disruption and division at the town.

Amathila told the media in Windhoek yesterday that it was time that normality was restored. Dissatisfied with Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development John Pandeni’s decision that the Council must reinstate CEO Regina Alugodhi, the Council met Amathila last week in the hope of garnering support for being allowed to take this decision themselves.”It was agreed that they would bury the hatchet and start working,” Amathila said of last week’s meeting.The Council had felt that they were being “bulldozed” into accepting Pandeni’s decisions following an investigation into alleged irregularities at the town.”We will go and explain to them who does what.All of them have made mistakes.There has been a lot of misunderstanding,” said Amathila.On Thursday, Chairperson Hilaria Shilimetindi asked Alugodhi to leave a management committee meeting because she was not permitted to attend while still on suspension.Alugodhi returned to office two weeks ago on Pandeni’s orders, after having been suspended by the Council for about five months.She was handed another reinstatement letter on Friday – this time by the Council.The Namibian understands that stringent conditions have been attached to Alugodhi’s reinstatement – including that she repay around N$100 000 the Council had granted her for the purchase of a vehicle, laptop computer and other items.Alugodhi confirmed to The Namibian that she had received a reinstatement letter from the Council, but declined to elaborate on the conditions attached to the move.Amathila said she believed that Alugodhi would be given a reasonable period in which to repay any money the Council was demanding from her.Dissatisfied with Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development John Pandeni’s decision that the Council must reinstate CEO Regina Alugodhi, the Council met Amathila last week in the hope of garnering support for being allowed to take this decision themselves.”It was agreed that they would bury the hatchet and start working,” Amathila said of last week’s meeting.The Council had felt that they were being “bulldozed” into accepting Pandeni’s decisions following an investigation into alleged irregularities at the town.”We will go and explain to them who does what.All of them have made mistakes.There has been a lot of misunderstanding,” said Amathila.On Thursday, Chairperson Hilaria Shilimetindi asked Alugodhi to leave a management committee meeting because she was not permitted to attend while still on suspension.Alugodhi returned to office two weeks ago on Pandeni’s orders, after having been suspended by the Council for about five months.She was handed another reinstatement letter on Friday – this time by the Council.The Namibian understands that stringent conditions have been attached to Alugodhi’s reinstatement – including that she repay around N$100 000 the Council had granted her for the purchase of a vehicle, laptop computer and other items.Alugodhi confirmed to The Namibian that she had received a reinstatement letter from the Council, but declined to elaborate on the conditions attached to the move.Amathila said she believed that Alugodhi would be given a reasonable period in which to repay any money the Council was demanding from her.