Otavi gets house in order

THE embattled Otavi Town Council has avoided being disbanded.

Government had warned that, if new office bearers were not elected by the end of this week, the Council would be dissolved. Immanuel Kaundje, representing the Otavi Residents’ Association (Ora), was sworn in by Magistrate Andre le Roux as Mayor on Tuesday afternoon.Three weeks ago, Ora booted three of its four representatives off the council.The Association claimed the officials had become out of touch on matters affecting the community.Kaundje replaces Markus Damaseb, who had served as mayor for three years.Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing, Erastus Negonga, warned community leaders and residents at the weekend that the council would have to be disbanded if it was not properly constituted during the course of this week.Johanna Garas was sworn in as Deputy Mayor, Laurentius Ihuhua as Chairperson of the Management Committee and Martha Mukuwe as Deputy Chairperson of the Management Committee.The trio are all new to the council.Swapo member Lea Nghifindaka will serve as an additional member on the management committee.The new council, which was due to meet last night, faces numerous challenges.Last week, council employees went on strike to protest the municipality’s failure to pay months of contributions to their medical aid pension and insurance schemes.Town Clerk Joseph Jantze confirmed this week that he was awaiting the transfer of N$600 000 from the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing to meet these obligations.The council’s financial woes have been attributed to its failure to send out bills for services rendered and its bank overdraft is now in the region of N$200 000.An outstanding debt of N$400 000 has also prompted NamWater to impose water restrictions at the town.Kaundje told The Namibian that the council would have to consider slashing its workforce by between 15 and 20 people because its monthly income – about N$50 000 – was not enough to meet its salary bill, which is about three times this amount.He also said it was imperative that the council employed an accountant to advise on financial matters.The council still has to discuss an interim replacement for the town clerk whose resignation comes into effect next week.Immanuel Kaundje, representing the Otavi Residents’ Association (Ora), was sworn in by Magistrate Andre le Roux as Mayor on Tuesday afternoon.Three weeks ago, Ora booted three of its four representatives off the council.The Association claimed the officials had become out of touch on matters affecting the community.Kaundje replaces Markus Damaseb, who had served as mayor for three years.Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing, Erastus Negonga, warned community leaders and residents at the weekend that the council would have to be disbanded if it was not properly constituted during the course of this week.Johanna Garas was sworn in as Deputy Mayor, Laurentius Ihuhua as Chairperson of the Management Committee and Martha Mukuwe as Deputy Chairperson of the Management Committee.The trio are all new to the council.Swapo member Lea Nghifindaka will serve as an additional member on the management committee.The new council, which was due to meet last night, faces numerous challenges.Last week, council employees went on strike to protest the municipality’s failure to pay months of contributions to their medical aid pension and insurance schemes.Town Clerk Joseph Jantze confirmed this week that he was awaiting the transfer of N$600 000 from the Ministry of Local and Regional Government and Housing to meet these obligations.The council’s financial woes have been attributed to its failure to send out bills for services rendered and its bank overdraft is now in the region of N$200 000.An outstanding debt of N$400 000 has also prompted NamWater to impose water restrictions at the town.Kaundje told The Namibian that the council would have to consider slashing its workforce by between 15 and 20 people because its monthly income – about N$50 000 – was not enough to meet its salary bill, which is about three times this amount.He also said it was imperative that the council employed an accountant to advise on financial matters.The council still has to discuss an interim replacement for the town clerk whose resignation comes into effect next week.