THE Swakopmund Town Council has come under fire from the town’s Residents Association (SRA) for supporting Namibia’s bid to host Africa’s biggest football event in 2010.
Namibia is one of eight countries in the race to stage the next Africa Cup of Nations tournament, and if Namibia’s name is drawn from the envelope on September 4, the Erongo Region will have to cough up N$8 million as its contribution to the event. “Although this can be a big and prestigious event, we think that our whole financial state of affairs does not allow us to do so,” Wilfried Groenewald, Chairman of the SRA, told a meeting at the town last week.He said it was likely that Swakopmund would have to foot the lion’s share of the amount, since the town was the only one in the region with a sound auditor’s report.”We just cannot afford such an outrageous amount of money being spent on such events if our own infrastructure lags behind,” said Groenewald.He claimed that many countries that hosted the Olympic Games did not get their money’s worth after making huge investments.The question was raised whether other sporting codes would also be supported if they made similar requests.The Town Council was also criticised for approving the donation of a vehicle to Swakopmund’s NamPol Traffic Unit.According to Groenewald, there was no justification for the donation since the vehicle would be used outside Swakopmund for traffic patrols and not for crime prevention in town.”How does Swakopmund have any benefits thereof? In the past, bicycles have been donated to the Police by the Hotel Association.Does anybody know what happened to these?” he asked.As the donated vehicle would most likely not be listed on NamPol’s inventory, it could easily just vanish, the SRA claimed.”If you read the report of the Auditor General for the year 2003-2004 regarding our Police, it states quite clearly that there is a lack of control regarding the finances and material stock of the Police,” said Groenewald.”NamPol is the Government’s obligation and not that of the town of Swakopmund.”Groenewald said rates and taxes were not cheap.”Normally a municipal property valuation is quite far below the real valuation, but in Swakopmund, this has become very close to it.Why should we then subsidise Government institutions if we have to struggle to find our own finances?” The SRA further took issue with “extravagant benefits” for municipal employees.Their annual leave, which was adjusted in line with the new Labour Act, would have significant financial implications for all residents, said Groenewald.”Unfortunately Namibia is going the same way as lots of Western countries, whereby the social benefits rise, productivity falls and you are out-priced by the countries from the Far East.It has been proven that investors move to places with cheaper labour.”Margit D’Avignon, a member of the SRA, charged that the municipality had sold a house in a prime area to one of its employees for N$293 000, while estate agents had calculated the value of the property at around N$800 000.”Although this can be a big and prestigious event, we think that our whole financial state of affairs does not allow us to do so,” Wilfried Groenewald, Chairman of the SRA, told a meeting at the town last week.He said it was likely that Swakopmund would have to foot the lion’s share of the amount, since the town was the only one in the region with a sound auditor’s report.”We just cannot afford such an outrageous amount of money being spent on such events if our own infrastructure lags behind,” said Groenewald.He claimed that many countries that hosted the Olympic Games did not get their money’s worth after making huge investments.The question was raised whether other sporting codes would also be supported if they made similar requests.The Town Council was also criticised for approving the donation of a vehicle to Swakopmund’s NamPol Traffic Unit.According to Groenewald, there was no justification for the donation since the vehicle would be used outside Swakopmund for traffic patrols and not for crime prevention in town.”How does Swakopmund have any benefits thereof? In the past, bicycles have been donated to the Police by the Hotel Association.Does anybody know what happened to these?” he asked.As the donated vehicle would most likely not be listed on NamPol’s inventory, it could easily just vanish, the SRA claimed.”If you read the report of the Auditor General for the year 2003-2004 regarding our Police, it states quite clearly that there is a lack of control regarding the finances and material stock of the Police,” said Groenewald.”NamPol is the Government’s obligation and not that of the town of Swakopmund.”Groenewald said rates and taxes were not cheap.”Normally a municipal property valuation is quite far below the real valuation, but in Swakopmund, this has become very close to it.Why should we then subsidise Government institutions if we have to struggle to find our own finances?” The SRA further took issue with “extravagant benefits” for municipal employees.Their annual leave, which was adjusted in line with the new Labour Act, would have significant financial implications for all residents, said Groenewald.”Unfortunately Namibia is going the same way as lots of Western countries, whereby the social benefits rise, productivity falls and you are out-priced by the countries from the Far East.It has been proven that investors move to places with cheaper labour.”Margit D’Avignon, a member of the SRA, charged that the municipality had sold a house in a prime area to one of its employees for N$293 000, while estate agents had calculated the value of the property at around N$800 000.
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