NCCI Omaruru sends SOS to Pohamba and Ekandjo

THE Omaruru branch of the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba and the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Jerry Ekandjo, to intervene in a town that ‘is in danger of sinking into the mire of rot’.

The chamber says the municipality is being run ‘in an atmosphere of negligence, incompetence, corruption, and mismanagement’.In an open letter to Pohamba and Ekandjo, several concerns are highlighted.Reference is made to a recent public discussion on the new financial year’s budget. When copies of the budget were requested from the audience, the mayor, Vincent Kaua, apparently said the document was too complex.’He implied that the audience wasn’t smart enough to understand the document. Many in the audience were far better educated than their elected officials and certainly able to digest a budget. How can any intelligent person be expected to comment on a complex issue without first being able to study the document in question?’ the NCCI asked.Although The Namibian couldn’t get hold of a copy of the budget either, we have learned that Omaruru’s capital budget is about N$20 million and its operational budget N$25 million. Tariffs and salaries are set to increase by ten per cent. In response to the NCCI allegation, councillors said it was not a council budget meeting.’It was an opportunity for the public and the council to discuss the budget,’ they said.The chamber also alleged corruption in the resurfacing of Dr Ian Scheepers Drive. The job was scheduled to take six months and now approaches two years.’We urge the national government to undertake a criminal investigation of all those involved in the granting of and supervision of this tender,’ the NCCI urged.According to the councillors, progress is being made on the road.As for sewage running from S.I. Gobs School into the Omaruru River and ultimately into the drinking water supply, the councillors say that the sewage line from the school is being linked to the new sewage system and the matter is being dealt with. The NCCI also referred to a property valuation done last year, which was declared null and void by a court because it did not follow procedure.Councillors told The Namibian that government valuators have been appointed to start the process again.’The council and office of the CEO have consistently refused to engage with the business community. This has led to an environment of distrust and hostility. The business community believes that what development has happened in Omaruru has been in spite of the municipality, not because of it,’ the letter reads.’If these circumstances continue, Omaruru will lose all that it has gained in the last decade, largely because of the investment and commitment of the private sector. It is in this light that we urge the national government to come to Omaruru, dismiss the entire council, conduct a ten-year forensic audit, investigate the activities of the previous CEOs and former mayors, and help us reclaim our town,’ the letter concludes.