Residents grill council

THE Keetmanshoop Town Council has been heavily criticised by the town’s residents over the running of its affairs.

At a community meeting on Tuesday, frustrated residents asked the council to “ship out unless they got their affairs in order”. “For how long will we still continue with this ineffective council,” one resident said.The residents cited a catalogue of failings in the council’s openness, accountability and integrity.They claimed the council was fleecing them by charging exorbitant tariffs to cover up for its financial blunders.The residents also expressed frustration over a lack of communication between residents and council and demanded the immediate suspension of a staffer in the municipality’s finance department, who is accused of siphoning off more than N$700 000.They said it was no secret that the council was divided into two factions, adding that this was hampering development at the town.”The factional infighting among councillors is evident, how can they have a healthy relationship with each other,” one resident remarked.For the first time someone in the council admitted that it was divided.”Yes, I admit that the council is divided, but give council a chance since it is busy sorting out differences among them to work as a unit,” councillor Moses Titus said.The residents also criticised Mayor Finna Elago for allegedly offensive statements she had made in public.They said they were offended by her statement: “I’m not here to please people”.Elago also came under fire for allegedly misleading and instigating staff members against some of the councillors.At one stage people chanted “Hah, hah” when Elago rose to state her case regarding the complaints against her.Elago said her door was open to any resident who had problems with her public statements.She conceded that the council had failed to hold community meetings, but pledged that the problem would be rectified with immediate effect.”From now on we will hold a community meeting at least once a month,” Elago promised.Elago also briefed the community on development prospects at the town.She said the council was on the verge of sealing a deal with private investors for the building of a multi-million-dollar shopping complex this month.She also highlighted past council achievements including the purchase of earthmoving equipment, building of houses, and the purchase of vehicles to the tune of millions of dollars.”For how long will we still continue with this ineffective council,” one resident said.The residents cited a catalogue of failings in the council’s openness, accountability and integrity.They claimed the council was fleecing them by charging exorbitant tariffs to cover up for its financial blunders.The residents also expressed frustration over a lack of communication between residents and council and demanded the immediate suspension of a staffer in the municipality’s finance department, who is accused of siphoning off more than N$700 000.They said it was no secret that the council was divided into two factions, adding that this was hampering development at the town.”The factional infighting among councillors is evident, how can they have a healthy relationship with each other,” one resident remarked.For the first time someone in the council admitted that it was divided.”Yes, I admit that the council is divided, but give council a chance since it is busy sorting out differences among them to work as a unit,” councillor Moses Titus said.The residents also criticised Mayor Finna Elago for allegedly offensive statements she had made in public.They said they were offended by her statement: “I’m not here to please people”.Elago also came under fire for allegedly misleading and instigating staff members against some of the councillors.At one stage people chanted “Hah, hah” when Elago rose to state her case regarding the complaints against her.Elago said her door was open to any resident who had problems with her public statements.She conceded that the council had failed to hold community meetings, but pledged that the problem would be rectified with immediate effect.”From now on we will hold a community meeting at least once a month,” Elago promised.Elago also briefed the community on development prospects at the town.She said the council was on the verge of sealing a deal with private investors for the building of a multi-million-dollar shopping complex this month.She also highlighted past council achievements including the purchase of earthmoving equipment, building of houses, and the purchase of vehicles to the tune of millions of dollars.