Lack of planning causing chaos in small councils

SMALLER municipalities in Namibia are experiencing problems because they do not work according to five-year strategic plans, says the Mayor of Walvis Bay, King Mandume Muatunga.

Municipalities without strategic plans do not have a basis to work on. They have no vision and have no way of seeing their way forward, said Muatunga.He was addressing the first meeting of the Erongo Mayors Forum after the Local Authority elections in May.With due respect, you should go back and plan what you want to achieve in the next five years, the Mayor advised the six smaller towns in the Erongo Region at Swakopmund yesterday.It makes more sense to do that.You cannot work in isolation.He added that Mayors should know their responsibilities in terms of the Local Authorities Act.The Mayor of Swakopmund Rosina //Hoabes encouraged her colleagues to raise their problems at meetings.That is why we are here to assist each other.Put down the things that bother you and that you need advice on.Uis Mayor, Ambrosius Swartbooi advised his colleagues to make a point of popping in at the office regularly to stay up to date with new appointments and information.He said as the first chairperson of the National Village Councils Forum a common problem was identified that CEOs or Town Clerks did not have good communication channels with Mayors.The Mayor of one of the debt-ridden towns in the region, Renathe Namases of Usakos, said she had wanted to raise several items but was only informed of the meeting the day before.The meeting agenda did not contain an item related to the problems with water and electricity payments experienced by several towns in the region.They have no vision and have no way of seeing their way forward, said Muatunga.He was addressing the first meeting of the Erongo Mayors Forum after the Local Authority elections in May.With due respect, you should go back and plan what you want to achieve in the next five years, the Mayor advised the six smaller towns in the Erongo Region at Swakopmund yesterday.It makes more sense to do that.You cannot work in isolation.He added that Mayors should know their responsibilities in terms of the Local Authorities Act.The Mayor of Swakopmund Rosina //Hoabes encouraged her colleagues to raise their problems at meetings.That is why we are here to assist each other.Put down the things that bother you and that you need advice on.Uis Mayor, Ambrosius Swartbooi advised his colleagues to make a point of popping in at the office regularly to stay up to date with new appointments and information.He said as the first chairperson of the National Village Councils Forum a common problem was identified that CEOs or Town Clerks did not have good communication channels with Mayors.The Mayor of one of the debt-ridden towns in the region, Renathe Namases of Usakos, said she had wanted to raise several items but was only informed of the meeting the day before.The meeting agenda did not contain an item related to the problems with water and electricity payments experienced by several towns in the region.