Henties residents call PS meeting ‘pathetic’

THE dissatisfaction of the Henties Bay community with their town council is far from over after a public meeting at the town called by Permanent Secretary of Regional and Local Government Erastus Negonga was described as “pathetic”.

“It was a pointless meeting because the issues of concern were avoided,” said the chairperson of the Henties Bay Concerned Citizens’ Group, Irene Laberloth. The largest part of the audience walked out of the meeting because they saw the investigation as a mere mockery, Laberloth said.Negonga said the granting of Build Together loans to councillors was a mistake based on ignorance because they did not qualify.Councillor Monica Arises, chairperson of the management committee who gained from the programme, was told to pay back her loan of N$32 000 by the end of December.The Concerned Citizens’ Group wanted to know why Mayor Paulus Iimbambah and other councillors who benefited from the scheme were not ordered to do the same.The group is also not satisfied that nothing has come from the claims of fraud and abuse of municipal vehicles that was investigated by an audit team of the Ministry sent to Henties Bay in July.”The meeting of Tuesday night had nothing to do with the report of the audit team,” said Laberloth.”The PS covered up the real issues by focusing on residents’ outstanding municipality bills.”Mayor Iimbambah’s alleged bad behaviour in public was not addressed to their satisfaction either.Negonga apparently said that Iimbambah’s behaviour after working hours has nothing to do with his official status.”We feel that a public figure like a mayor works for the community and must be respectable,” said Laberloth.Negonga apparently also said that the appointment and dismissal of town councillors is not a matter for the Ministry but for their respective political parties.Laberloth claims it is an attempt to politicise the matter instead of practically dealing with real concerns.Negonga and town councillors claim that the trouble was caused by former councillors who are agitating the public in an attempt to regain their positions.Laberloth said: “The former town council is part of Henties Bay.Our dealings with them have nothing to do with race or politics, but with the management of the town.We are all part of the same community.”The group now plans to make an appeal to President Hifikepunye Pohamba since they feel all other channels towards justice are blocked.They say that the President has given them a mandate to fight corruption and Laberoth wants to know why corruption is being dealt with across the countryThe largest part of the audience walked out of the meeting because they saw the investigation as a mere mockery, Laberloth said.Negonga said the granting of Build Together loans to councillors was a mistake based on ignorance because they did not qualify.Councillor Monica Arises, chairperson of the management committee who gained from the programme, was told to pay back her loan of N$32 000 by the end of December.The Concerned Citizens’ Group wanted to know why Mayor Paulus Iimbambah and other councillors who benefited from the scheme were not ordered to do the same.The group is also not satisfied that nothing has come from the claims of fraud and abuse of municipal vehicles that was investigated by an audit team of the Ministry sent to Henties Bay in July.”The meeting of Tuesday night had nothing to do with the report of the audit team,” said Laberloth.”The PS covered up the real issues by focusing on residents’ outstanding municipality bills.”Mayor Iimbambah’s alleged bad behaviour in public was not addressed to their satisfaction either.Negonga apparently said that Iimbambah’s behaviour after working hours has nothing to do with his official status.”We feel that a public figure like a mayor works for the community and must be respectable,” said Laberloth.Negonga apparently also said that the appointment and dismissal of town councillors is not a matter for the Ministry but for their respective political parties.Laberloth claims it is an attempt to politicise the matter instead of practically dealing with real concerns.Negonga and town councillors claim that the trouble was caused by former councillors who are agitating the public in an attempt to regain their positions.Laberloth said: “The former town council is part of Henties Bay.Our dealings with them have nothing to do with race or politics, but with the management of the town.We are all part of the same community.”The group now plans to make an appeal to President Hifikepunye Pohamba since they feel all other channels towards justice are blocked.They say that the President has given them a mandate to fight corruption and Laberoth wants to know why corruption is being dealt with across the country