Otavi Council between a rock and a hard place

THE affairs of the Otavi Town Council officially ground to a halt yesterday, with all divisions closed on the first day of a strike by its about 50 employees.

For most of the morning, employees gathered at the Community Hall awaiting an explanation from the remaining four councillors on when they could expect long overdue contributions to their medical aid, pension, social security and other insurance policies to be paid. By yesterday, workers had also not received their February salaries.These were due last Wednesday.For several months, employees’ payslips have indicated deductions, but these were never paid to the respective companies.As is the case with several other town councils around the country which find themselves in a financial bind, Otavi’s inability to collect revenue for services rendered is a major contributor to its cash-flow problems.The Council says a fire that destroyed the municipal building last year had contributed to their financial troubles because they were behind in processing and sending out accounts.Workers were told yesterday that the Council intended to ask for a meeting with the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing and to request a Government bail-out of about N$400 000 so it could pay employees.The councillor nominated by the Otavi Residents’ Association (ORA), Immanuel Kaundje, told The Namibian that the Council was prepared to repay this money when it received returns on its investments next year.Kaundje said the Council also urgently needed money to pay water utility NamWater to avert a further reduction in water supply at the town.Yesterday the Council indicated to workers that it was in a position to pay them their basic February salaries but workers wanted nothing of that.”If I die today, it’s obvious my children will not get anything,” said union shop steward Kristof Johannes.He said workers would not return to work until their demands had been met in their entirety.Kaundje said the Council would need to hold a community meeting soon to impress on residents the importance of paying their accounts.Residents who called The Namibian yesterday appeared confused by the industrial action.They said they arrived “before a dead man’s door” when they went to do business at the municipal buildings.”Who pays the lady who works for the Road’s Authority? Even she wasn’t working today,” said one resident.The Roads Authority rents an office within the municipal building.Several workers later returned to their posts but were not fulfilling their duties.Town Clerk Joseph Jantze said he had no choice but to down tools, saying it was difficult to continue working without the support of his colleagues.”It’s a situation that affects us all.Both in the technical departments and the administration,” he said.In the interim, the Local Government Ministry has given Jantze the go-ahead to have Laurentius Ihuhua, Martha Mukuwe and Johanna Garas sworn in as replacements for Mayor Markus Damaseb, Deputy Mayor Magdalena Noarises and the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Gerson Gamibeb.The Ministry raised concerns over the procedures followed when ORA decided to give the trio the boot.Deputy Minister Gerhard Toetemeyer said yesterday that he was still concerned that two of the nominees had been involved in alleged fraudulent activities at their former workplaces, but as they had not been formally convicted before the courts, the Ministry could not intervene on that level.”It’s an ethical matter.And it remains our concern at the Ministry,” he told The Namibian.Toetemeyer added that he expected the new councillors to be sworn in this week.Only after that, he said, could the Ministry entertain requests for assistance.By yesterday, workers had also not received their February salaries. These were due last Wednesday. For several months, employees’ payslips have indicated deductions, but these were never paid to the respective companies. As is the case with several other town councils around the country which find themselves in a financial bind, Otavi’s inability to collect revenue for services rendered is a major contributor to its cash-flow problems. The Council says a fire that destroyed the municipal building last year had contributed to their financial troubles because they were behind in processing and sending out accounts. Workers were told yesterday that the Council intended to ask for a meeting with the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing and to request a Government bail-out of about N$400 000 so it could pay employees. The councillor nominated by the Otavi Residents’ Association (ORA), Immanuel Kaundje, told The Namibian that the Council was prepared to repay this money when it received returns on its investments next year. Kaundje said the Council also urgently needed money to pay water utility NamWater to avert a further reduction in water supply at the town. Yesterday the Council indicated to workers that it was in a position to pay them their basic February salaries but workers wanted nothing of that. “If I die today, it’s obvious my children will not get anything,” said union shop steward Kristof Johannes. He said workers would not return to work until their demands had been met in their entirety. Kaundje said the Council would need to hold a community meeting soon to impress on residents the importance of paying their accounts. Residents who called The Namibian yesterday appeared confused by the industrial action. They said they arrived “before a dead man’s door” when they went to do business at the municipal buildings. “Who pays the lady who works for the Road’s Authority? Even she wasn’t working today,” said one resident. The Roads Authority rents an office within the municipal building. Several workers later returned to their posts but were not fulfilling their duties. Town Clerk Joseph Jantze said he had no choice but to down tools, saying it was difficult to continue working without the support of his colleagues. “It’s a situation that affects us all. Both in the technical departments and the administration,” he said. In the interim, the Local Government Ministry has given Jantze the go-ahead to have Laurentius Ihuhua, Martha Mukuwe and Johanna Garas sworn in as replacements for Mayor Markus Damaseb, Deputy Mayor Magdalena Noarises and the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Gerson Gamibeb. The Ministry raised concerns over the procedures followed when ORA decided to give the trio the boot. Deputy Minister Gerhard Toetemeyer said yesterday that he was still concerned that two of the nominees had been involved in alleged fraudulent activities at their former workplaces, but as they had not been formally convicted before the courts, the Ministry could not intervene on that level. “It’s an ethical matter. And it remains our concern at the Ministry,” he told The Namibian. Toetemeyer added that he expected the new councillors to be sworn in this week. Only after that, he said, could the Ministry entertain requests for assistance.