Omaruru leaderless because of infighting

ENDLESS squabbles, jealousy and self-centred agendas are said to have brought operations at the Omaruru Municipality to a halt after an extraordinary meeting to elect new office bearers was postponed at the last minute.

The Council has been without a management committee and a Chief Executive Officer since Monday. That is in addition to being without a treasurer for the last five months and the non-completion of the municipal budget.No elections took place because of alleged squabbles among leaders, while CEO Johannes Xoagub’s term of office expired last week.Sources said this week that Mayor Mike Tjirare “single-handedly” and without consulting the Council informed Xoagub that the Council would not renew his employment contract.The Namibian has established that the Council was supposed to hold elections on Monday this week, but that they were postponed because Heiner Dorgeloh of the Omaruru Residents’ Association, who resigned earlier, wanted to take part in the election despite having nominated Thelma van Rhyn as their new representative.Both Van Rhyn and Swapo Councillor Gruzi Goseb claimed she was withdrawn because Tjirare and Dorgeloh assumed that she could be manipulated to vote for Tjirare in the election for the management committee.”However, Mrs Van Rhyn made it clear that if she was to participate in the elections, she would apply her mind and vote for a person that she thinks can perform the duty of mayor efficiently,” said Goseb.Van Rhyn regularly attends council meetings as a spectator and knows the capabilities of all councillors, he said.Dorgeloh confirmed that he had “resigned temporarily for one month” for health reasons and needed treatment in Cape Town.However, with better local treatment, there was no need for him to travel and he decided to return.He said his resignation was never communicated to the Ministry of Local Government head office and was also not gazetted.However, Goseb said the resignation was valid the minute it was handed in.Dorgeloh denied claims that he knew that Van Rhyn wanted to vote for someone other than Tjirare.Mayor Tjirare admitted that the town had been leaderless for the whole week and would be without a CEO for some time.He said information about Van Rhyn refusing to vote for him was news to him.Tjirare would also not be drawn into responding to claims that he had informed Xoagub about the non-renewal of his contract without Council input.”It is premature for me to comment.That issue is still under discussion and will be clarified after it is resolved.It is receiving urgent attention,” Tjirare said.Van Rhyn found it disturbing that the council was without both a CEO and Treasurer.”Who is giving work assignments to staff?” she asked.The Namibian established that the council never provided reasons why Xoagub’s contract was not renewed.A legal battle is looming between Xoagub and the Council, which would cost thousands.Xoagub said he was unable to comment on the issue because his lawyers were still dealing with the Municipality.Van Rhyn said she had seen communication between the two opposing lawyers on “something that could have been prevented” had it been done correctly.Ministerial guidelines indicate that a decision not to renew a term of office must be based on performance and that such a CEO must make a presentation before a final decision is taken.In Omaruru’s case, procedures were flawed, legal provisions not complied with and Mayor Tjirare was alleged to have consulted only a few councillors.Goseb said the decision on the CEO was not taken by the Council and thus the Omaruru Municipality could not pay the legal cost.Omaruru has about 7 000 residents.That is in addition to being without a treasurer for the last five months and the non-completion of the municipal budget.No elections took place because of alleged squabbles among leaders, while CEO Johannes Xoagub’s term of office expired last week.Sources said this week that Mayor Mike Tjirare “single-handedly” and without consulting the Council informed Xoagub that the Council would not renew his employment contract.The Namibian has established that the Council was supposed to hold elections on Monday this week, but that they were postponed because Heiner Dorgeloh of the Omaruru Residents’ Association, who resigned earlier, wanted to take part in the election despite having nominated Thelma van Rhyn as their new representative.Both Van Rhyn and Swapo Councillor Gruzi Goseb claimed she was withdrawn because Tjirare and Dorgeloh assumed that she could be manipulated to vote for Tjirare in the election for the management committee.”However, Mrs Van Rhyn made it clear that if she was to participate in the elections, she would apply her mind and vote for a person that she thinks can perform the duty of mayor efficiently,” said Goseb.Van Rhyn regularly attends council meetings as a spectator and knows the capabilities of all councillors, he said.Dorgeloh confirmed that he had “resigned temporarily for one month” for health reasons and needed treatment in Cape Town.However, with better local treatment, there was no need for him to travel and he decided to return.He said his resignation was never communicated to the Ministry of Local Government head office and was also not gazetted.However, Goseb said the resignation was valid the minute it was handed in.Dorgeloh denied claims that he knew that Van Rhyn wanted to vote for someone other than Tjirare.Mayor Tjirare admitted that the town had been leaderless for the whole week and would be without a CEO for some time.He said information about Van Rhyn refusing to vote for him was news to him.Tjirare would also not be drawn into responding to claims that he had informed Xoagub about the non-renewal of his contract without Council input.”It is premature for me to comment.That issue is still under discussion and will be clarified after it is resolved.It is receiving urgent attention,” Tjirare said.Van Rhyn found it disturbing that the council was without both a CEO and Treasurer.”Who is giving work assignments to staff?” she asked.The Namibian established that the council never provided reasons why Xoagub’s contract was not renewed.A legal battle is looming between Xoagub and the Council, which would cost thousands.Xoagub said he was unable to comment on the issue because his lawyers were still dealing with the Municipality. Van Rhyn said she had seen communication between the two opposing lawyers on “something that could have been prevented” had it been done correctly.Ministerial guidelines indicate that a decision not to renew a term of office must be based on performance and that such a CEO must make a presentation before a final decision is taken.In Omaruru’s case, procedures were flawed, legal provisions not complied with and Mayor Tjirare was alleged to have consulted only a few councillors.Goseb said the decision on the CEO was not taken by the Council and thus the Omaruru Municipality could not pay the legal cost.Omaruru has about 7 000 residents.