A right To Shelter of Namibia has withdrawn deputy mayor of Gobabis, Dina Fillemon, as its representative to the Gobabis municipal council, citing unruly and unbecoming conduct.
In a letter dated 11 December and addressed to Gobabis municipality chief executive Sofia Eises, A Right to Shelter of Namibia leader Veronia Mokaleng-Kuzeeko notifies the council of Fillemon’s immediate removal as its representative.
The association says the decision follows several internal engagements with Fillemon over her conduct, which it says was inconsistent with the organisation’s values, discipline and code of conduct.
“Despite several internal engagements, her behaviour has continued to undermine the unity, integrity and effective functioning of the association,” Mokaleng-Kuzeeko writes.
As a result, the organisation says it can no longer entrust Fillemon with any role on its behalf. It has requested the municipality to remove her name from all official lists and records where she appears as a representative of A Right to Shelter Foundation of Namibia.
Fillemon, a member of the San community in the Omaheke region, was sworn in as deputy mayor on Thursday. However, shortly thereafter, the leadership of A Right To Shelter of Namibia moved to withdraw her as a local authority councillor, citing concerns over her conduct.
Fillemon was listed second on the A Right to Shelter of Namibia election list during last month’s regional and local authority elections.
The association won three seats on the Gobabis municipal council.
Nearly two weeks ago, the association reportedly attempted to remove her and replace her with Aletta Kooper, who was listed ninth on the association’s candidate list.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) reportedly objected to the move, noting that Kooper had not been gazetted. As a result, the magistrate presiding over the swearing-in ceremony halted the process.
During the swearing-in ceremony last Thursday, Mokaleng-Kuzeeko again attempted to have Fillemon removed.
Sources at the town have alleged that A Right To Shelter of Namibia garnered significant support from areas dominated by San communities, where Fillemon enjoys strong backing.
On Saturday, Mokaleng-Kuzeeko rejected claims that Fillemon was removed because she comes from a marginalised community or because of her alleged inability to speak English.
“The association categorically rejects these claims as false, misleading and politically motivated. These allegations are part of a calculated political gimmick aimed at tarnishing the image and credibility of A Right to Shelter of Namibia,” the statement reads.
The association further states that Fillemon had not been victimised on the basis of her background, language ability or community affiliation.
“Contrary to public claims, Dina Fillemon is fully aware that her name was erroneously captured by ECN, and that in terms of A Right to Shelter’s internal election governance procedures, of which she was part, she was not elected at this stage to represent the association in the Gobabis Town Council,” the statement says.
According to A Right to Shelter, Fillemon was engaged on multiple occasions to explain the internal processes clearly and transparently.
The association added that it has designated Mokaleng-Kuzeeko, Aletta Uiras and Wynand Lukas as its official representatives to the Gobabis Town Council, and that it has formally engaged the ECN to rectify what it describes as an administrative error.
The spokesperson of the Gobabis municipality, Frederick Uietele, told The Namibian yesterday that the municipality has received the letter but will be waiting for advice from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
“We cannot say she has been removed. The letter was received from A Right to Shelter to recall her; we are now just waiting for the ministerial advice on the letter,” he said.
Fillemon was not reachable for comment yesterday.
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