Okahandja’s CEO back on the job

Yesterday marked the first day of Okahandja CEO Regina Alugodhi’s new five-year contract with the garden town’s municipality, after more than two months of failed effort by community members and some of her fellow councillors to get her out.

Alugodhi was initially informed on April 4 that her previous contract, which expired on Monday, would not be renewed. Early last month however, it emerged that the Council’s decision was reversed at an apparent clandestine meeting which excluded councillors from the opposition parties.Alugodhi’s new agreement was apparently signed on May 14, and despite protest from community members and insistence by the excluded parties, that the move was unlawful, Alugodhi yesterday reported for duty as usual.”Her appointment was totally political.She was removed on April 3, so there is no way that this is constitutional”, Timo /Goagoseb, one of the community members, who last month led two demonstrations against the unlawful move, said on Monday.”We’ve written letters to the minister but we have not received a reply until now,” he said.He added that the community was exploring the possibility of taking the Council to court over their decision.Councillors spoken to yesterday declined to comment, saying only that they had no authority to speak to the media.When reached for comment yesterday, Alugodhi refused to speak to The Namibian.”My contract has nothing to do with the media,” she said before hanging up the phone.Early last month however, it emerged that the Council’s decision was reversed at an apparent clandestine meeting which excluded councillors from the opposition parties.Alugodhi’s new agreement was apparently signed on May 14, and despite protest from community members and insistence by the excluded parties, that the move was unlawful, Alugodhi yesterday reported for duty as usual.”Her appointment was totally political.She was removed on April 3, so there is no way that this is constitutional”, Timo /Goagoseb, one of the community members, who last month led two demonstrations against the unlawful move, said on Monday.”We’ve written letters to the minister but we have not received a reply until now,” he said.He added that the community was exploring the possibility of taking the Council to court over their decision.Councillors spoken to yesterday declined to comment, saying only that they had no authority to speak to the media.When reached for comment yesterday, Alugodhi refused to speak to The Namibian.”My contract has nothing to do with the media,” she said before hanging up the phone.