Outgoing Oshakati and Outapi councillors warn against infighting

Incoming local authority councillors have been advised to work in harmony, avoid infighting and deliver on promises.

Oshakati Town Council outgoing mayor Leonard Hango of Swapo yetserday told The Namibian incoming councillors must humble themselves and listen to the plight of the people who elected them.

“They should listen to everyone, regardless of their political affiliation. They should not discriminate, saying no, I won’t do this or that, because it is the Independent Patriots for Change, Swapo, Landless People’s Movement, or Popular Democratic Movement . . . they must go to council to serve everybody,” he said.

Hango said during his tenure he has observed infighting among political parties at some local authorities, which have led to council meetings being cancelled.

“The people are trusting you to take care of them, so you should do that,” he said.

During the five-year period, he said the council has achieved its targets, ensuring residents are allocated land and transforming informal settlements into formal housing, where all residents have access to basic services.

Although much still needs to be done, the council has done a good job so far, he said.

Hango urged the incoming council to pick up where the current one has left off.

Meanwhile, Outapi Town Council outgoing councillor Sara Peelenga says the council’s last meeting will be on 21 November, with no motion pending.

She says the council has implemented most of its motions, for example, revoking land deals with property developers who have failed to develop the land given to them.

“At Outapi we retain land at extensions 12 and 20, service the land, and sell it to customers directly on private treaty,” she says.

Peelenga says the council has petitioned on behalf of aggrieved residents over land taken from them at extension 4 (Okashonghi) to get their land back, and asked that they be compensated for their land.

She says the council is in the process of upgrading Outapi’s roads, mainly those that lead to Tsandi, Ruacana, Oshakati and Okapalelona, to a 5km dual carriageway.

LOWS

Peelenga says the council needs enough open markets to accommodate illegally trading street vendors.

“The government needs to subsidise the people as land here at Outapi is not affordable to the majority of interested clients,” she says.

She urges councillors to connect with other local authorities and business owners, and to collaborate on developing the town – regardless of political affiliation.

“Remember, you are there to serve the people, the council and the government.”

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