Govt revives 5-year term for councillors

GOVERNMENT once again plans to introduce legislation to shorten the term of office of Regional Councillors from six to five years – a plan that backfired last year.

The move is ultimately aimed at combining Regional Council and Local Authority Elections by 2010, and every ensuing five years. For this to happen, amendments will have to be made to both the Constitution and the Regional Council Act.In terms of the proposal approved by Cabinet at its 24th ordinary meeting, held on August 31, regional councillors elected in November will still serve a six-year term.However if the legislation is enacted, it will only come into effect in 2010, when councillors will be elected for five years.To coincide with the Local Authority and Regional Council elections in 2010, the present five-year term of local authority councillors would have to be extended by 18 months – requiring an amendment to the Local Authorities Act.The next local authority elections should take place in May 2009.Last year the National Council rejected a proposal to reduce the term of regional councillors.The NC parliamentarians said it was a sign that their work was being undermined and that it could eventually lead to the dissolution of the house of review.Introducing legislation to extend the term of office of Local Authority councillors last year, Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, said Government ideally wanted two sets of elections every five years – National Assembly and Presidential; and Regional Council and Local Authorities.Government has said this ideal was aimed at reducing voter apathy and saving costs.For this to happen, amendments will have to be made to both the Constitution and the Regional Council Act.In terms of the proposal approved by Cabinet at its 24th ordinary meeting, held on August 31, regional councillors elected in November will still serve a six-year term.However if the legislation is enacted, it will only come into effect in 2010, when councillors will be elected for five years.To coincide with the Local Authority and Regional Council elections in 2010, the present five-year term of local authority councillors would have to be extended by 18 months – requiring an amendment to the Local Authorities Act.The next local authority elections should take place in May 2009.Last year the National Council rejected a proposal to reduce the term of regional councillors.The NC parliamentarians said it was a sign that their work was being undermined and that it could eventually lead to the dissolution of the house of review.Introducing legislation to extend the term of office of Local Authority councillors last year, Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, said Government ideally wanted two sets of elections every five years – National Assembly and Presidential; and Regional Council and Local Authorities.Government has said this ideal was aimed at reducing voter apathy and saving costs.