Katima Mulilo council boots town clerk

THE Katima Mulilo Town Council has decided not to renew the contract of Town Clerk Agnes Limbo, who has served in the position for five years.

It has provided no reasons for the decision despite being required to do so in accordance with the Local Authority Act. The Namibian understands that Limbo has sought legal advice to compel the council to do so, after it has been avoiding playing open cards with Limbo on the decision to let her go.Over the years, Limbo has been at the helm of a virtually collapsing town council, riddled in debt for the non-payment of services by residents and incapable of providing adequate services.She has also been at loggerheads and the centre of much tension with councillors in the running of the municipality.The Katima Mulilo Town Council is strongly influenced by tribal divisions.”It would be good and professional just to inform personnel of the reasons [for terminating services] … maybe it is that you are not performing.”It helps us to grow,” said Limbo when contacted by The Namibian yesterday.The Namibian understands that Limbo was only presented with a letter from the council informing her that her services were being terminated on May 14.This is despite Limbo writing to the council some months back, wanting to know whether her contract would be renewed or not.She received no response.The Katima Mulilo Town Council has been advertising the post for several weeks now.Mayor John Likando said yesterday that he believed the council had acted in accordance with the law when it decided not to extend Limbo’s contract.He said she was free to apply for the post again.Likando said the council would attend to Limbo’s concerns.Of the selection and appointment of a new town clerk, Likando said: “We will follow all the necessary procedures and the appointment of the CEO will be done according to the Local Authority Act and the Labour Act.”Limbo said the circumstances surrounding the termination of her contract in her view had been unfair.”I just want the procedures to be followed,” she said.She would not say whether she intended to reapply for the post.The Katima Mulilo Town Council has been given until Thursday to provide Limbo with feedback on their decision not to re-employ her or face further legal action.A similar situation has reared its head at Ondangwa, where that Town Council has decided to retract a decision in April to extend the contract of Town Clerk Funneka Shigweda by two months until the end of July.The Namibian understands that Limbo has sought legal advice to compel the council to do so, after it has been avoiding playing open cards with Limbo on the decision to let her go.Over the years, Limbo has been at the helm of a virtually collapsing town council, riddled in debt for the non-payment of services by residents and incapable of providing adequate services.She has also been at loggerheads and the centre of much tension with councillors in the running of the municipality.The Katima Mulilo Town Council is strongly influenced by tribal divisions.”It would be good and professional just to inform personnel of the reasons [for terminating services] … maybe it is that you are not performing.”It helps us to grow,” said Limbo when contacted by The Namibian yesterday.The Namibian understands that Limbo was only presented with a letter from the council informing her that her services were being terminated on May 14.This is despite Limbo writing to the council some months back, wanting to know whether her contract would be renewed or not.She received no response.The Katima Mulilo Town Council has been advertising the post for several weeks now.Mayor John Likando said yesterday that he believed the council had acted in accordance with the law when it decided not to extend Limbo’s contract.He said she was free to apply for the post again.Likando said the council would attend to Limbo’s concerns.Of the selection and appointment of a new town clerk, Likando said: “We will follow all the necessary procedures and the appointment of the CEO will be done according to the Local Authority Act and the Labour Act.”Limbo said the circumstances surrounding the termination of her contract in her view had been unfair.”I just want the procedures to be followed,” she said.She would not say whether she intended to reapply for the post.The Katima Mulilo Town Council has been given until Thursday to provide Limbo with feedback on their decision not to re-employ her or face further legal action.A similar situation has reared its head at Ondangwa, where that Town Council has decided to retract a decision in April to extend the contract of Town Clerk Funneka Shigweda by two months until the end of July.