Okahandja residents demand removal of regional councillor

PAULINA NDALIKOKULEDISGRUNTLED residents at Okahandja today called for the removal of Swapo constituency councillor Steve Biko Booys, whom they accused of making empty promises.

The residents held a demonstration against Booys, who has been the regional councillor for the Okahandja constituency for eight years (two terms) and also represents the Otjozondjupa region in the National Council.

In a petition adressed to the Office of the President, the residents claimed Booys failed to respond to community queries, failed a community development committee, which he chairs, and sabotages any project initiated by the Okahandja Town Council.

“We the residents of Okahandja will on this day express our deepest disappointment and shock at the actions of Honourable Steve Biko Booys in the office of the regional constituency councillor; who has been identified as the mastermind behind a group of residents with an agenda to destabilise our town,” the petition read.

Booys is being accused of taking sides instead of representing all residents of the town.

“Hon. Steve Biko Booys, as our constituency councillor, is by mandate of his office supposed to represent all of us as residents of this town, however, we have strong evidence.

“Hon. Steve Biko Booys publicly sided with a pressure group or the so-called Okahandja concerned group under the leadership of one Kathleen Uri-khos instead of being non-partisan and hearing the concerns of different groups,” the petition read.

Booys, in an interview, denied having being notified of the protest or receiving the petition.

“If they would have marched to my office I would’ve been excited to respond and clarify their issues,” Booys said.

“I remain a servant of Okahandja town. If anyone has an issue or a group has issues they should come to me and raise such issues from my office. This is the year of accountability, as the president said, and we can only account if we are tasked. So the community members must task so that as representatives we can account on what we are tasked with,” he said.

“What Okahandja is today is not what it used to be. When I came into office nobody wanted to live at Okahandja. People and businesses where moving from Okahandja. Today Okahandja is one of the fastest growing towns, there are clinics, schools and roads and I can say I have contributed to the development,” Booys said in response to the allegations.

He cautioned residents to refrain from being used by interests which will not benefit them.

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