Key Usakos decisions put off to another day

THE Usakos Town Council and Together Kindergarten Committee have not yet signed a new agreement following a stand-off last week over the multi-purpose community centre and kindergarten at the Hakhaseb township.

The stand-off was resolved last week Tuesday when it was agreed to draw up a new agreement with community input. A community meeting was held on Sunday.Philemon Nauseb, Chairperson of the Management Committee, told The Namibian on Tuesday that it was decided at the meeting to first explain the agreement to parents before signing a final document.This meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but because a council quorum could not be formed, it was postponed to next Tuesday.According to Nauseb, the new agreement would require the kindergarten committee to submit a monthly report and income statement to the council on the utilisation of the hall.The kindergarten became embroiled in a drawn-out dispute between the council and the Concerned Group (CG), because the leader of the CG, Daniel Stramiss, also works at the kindergarten.The discord reached boiling point last Monday when Municipal officials, accompanied by armed Police officers, seized the complex and locked it up with padlocks and chains.The CG, a community organisation that started demonstrating last year against alleged corruption in the council, has since been vocal in articulating community concerns about council affairs.While Nauseb described the meeting on Sunday as “very positive with good input by the community,” Stramiss claimed not all community members were given an opportunity to speak.He charged the meeting was “invaded” by council supporters who kept on asking about the kindergarten’s affairs.* The Police have confirmed that two computers and printers were stolen from the Usakos Municipality on Sunday night.The culprits gained access to the building by forcing open the back door.No arrests have been made.A community meeting was held on Sunday.Philemon Nauseb, Chairperson of the Management Committee, told The Namibian on Tuesday that it was decided at the meeting to first explain the agreement to parents before signing a final document.This meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but because a council quorum could not be formed, it was postponed to next Tuesday.According to Nauseb, the new agreement would require the kindergarten committee to submit a monthly report and income statement to the council on the utilisation of the hall.The kindergarten became embroiled in a drawn-out dispute between the council and the Concerned Group (CG), because the leader of the CG, Daniel Stramiss, also works at the kindergarten.The discord reached boiling point last Monday when Municipal officials, accompanied by armed Police officers, seized the complex and locked it up with padlocks and chains.The CG, a community organisation that started demonstrating last year against alleged corruption in the council, has since been vocal in articulating community concerns about council affairs.While Nauseb described the meeting on Sunday as “very positive with good input by the community,” Stramiss claimed not all community members were given an opportunity to speak.He charged the meeting was “invaded” by council supporters who kept on asking about the kindergarten’s affairs.* The Police have confirmed that two computers and printers were stolen from the Usakos Municipality on Sunday night.The culprits gained access to the building by forcing open the back door.No arrests have been made.