Major local govt shake-up on way

GOVERNMENT plans sweeping changes to municipalities in order to “strengthen political leadership” in towns, villages and settlements and allow closer co-ordination with regional councils and central Government.

The aim of a “new political leadership” in local authorities is to build coalitions and to encourage the development of a vibrant civil society, according to proposals made public during a two-day conference that ended in Windhoek yesterday. In future, mayors of larger towns and some town councillors will be employed fulltime and will receive salaries.Administrative processes and financial systems are to be streamlined and standardised for all municipalities, while a local government personnel management system is to be introduced to be compatible with regional councils and central Government.”The fundamental principle is that there should not be disparities between how local officials and their counterparts at regional and central government are treated,” the draft paper states.The Finance Ministry will draft a new law to give the Ministry oversight of the finances of all municipalities and implement a uniform budgeting and financial management system.The new law will also regulate municipal tariffs, rates and taxes, which will be supervised by central Government.The introduction of a local government tax to be paid by residents will also be considered.The 77-page document also proposes that Government establish yet another advisory body- the Local Government Development Advisory Board – under the auspices of the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing.”In the process of reforming local governments we must remain mindful that we are a unitary state and local governments (municipalities) are part of this union,” Prime Minister Nahas Angula said at the conference.”Their challenges and failures affect national development, the economy and the way we govern and deliver services profoundly,” Angula added.Local and Regional Government Minister John Pandeni took a swipe at white Namibian professionals, whom he accused of not taking in trained staff from previously disadvantaged sectors of the population.”Our Ministry has trained some town planners, however, to date the profession is dominated by the previously advantaged who have been embracing every opportunity to frustrate and close all the doors of opportunity for the previously disadvantaged,” Pandeni claimed.In future, mayors of larger towns and some town councillors will be employed fulltime and will receive salaries.Administrative processes and financial systems are to be streamlined and standardised for all municipalities, while a local government personnel management system is to be introduced to be compatible with regional councils and central Government.”The fundamental principle is that there should not be disparities between how local officials and their counterparts at regional and central government are treated,” the draft paper states.The Finance Ministry will draft a new law to give the Ministry oversight of the finances of all municipalities and implement a uniform budgeting and financial management system.The new law will also regulate municipal tariffs, rates and taxes, which will be supervised by central Government.The introduction of a local government tax to be paid by residents will also be considered. The 77-page document also proposes that Government establish yet another advisory body- the Local Government Development Advisory Board – under the auspices of the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing.”In the process of reforming local governments we must remain mindful that we are a unitary state and local governments (municipalities) are part of this union,” Prime Minister Nahas Angula said at the conference.”Their challenges and failures affect national development, the economy and the way we govern and deliver services profoundly,” Angula added.Local and Regional Government Minister John Pandeni took a swipe at white Namibian professionals, whom he accused of not taking in trained staff from previously disadvantaged sectors of the population.”Our Ministry has trained some town planners, however, to date the profession is dominated by the previously advantaged who have been embracing every opportunity to frustrate and close all the doors of opportunity for the previously disadvantaged,” Pandeni claimed.