Swapo urged to end boycott

GOVERNMENT has written to Swapo expressing concern about the leadership vacuum at Usakos and Karibib following the ruling party’s refusal to work with opposition groups on newly elected town councils.

The Swapo decision has paralysed the administration of the two western towns, as well as Ongwediva and Opuwo in the North, where wrangling by the ruling party since the recent Local Authority elections has stopped councillors from taking office. “We have sent a letter to the Swapo headquarters encouraging them to find an amicable solution,” said Gerhard Toetemeyer, the Deputy Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing, which oversees the smooth administration of cities, towns and villages.”That is how far we can go,” Toetemeyer told The Namibian this week.The letter of appeal to Swapo has been written only in the cases of Karibib and Usakos.The ruling party has opposed the alliance between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Congress of Democrats (CoD), which is reported to have angered the Swapo leadership.UDF councillors have reported that Swapo asked them to break up the post-election coalition if they were to expect co-operation.At Karibib and Usakos, Swapo won three of the seven seats during the municipal elections held on May 14.The CoD and UDF took two seats each at Usakos, while at Karibib the UDF took two, the CoD one and the DTA one.Other reports say Swapo had been unable to decide who to put into council at Karibib and had changed the order of the candidates by the end of last week.At Opuwo, where Swapo obtained three of seven seats, the ruling party is reported to have a legitimate challenge in questioning the outcome of the election.It claims that some of the people who registered to vote there did not live at the town.The absence of councils has stalled the decision-making machinery at the towns, allowing town clerks there to assume total control.No policy decisions can be taken.According to Toetemeyer, the day-to-day administration continued unhindered.In fact, at Opuwo, the town clerk had been found to be running the place almost single-handedly against the law, said Toetemeyer, who pointed out that a new council could help get the Kaoko regional capital on the road for proper administration.It is not clear what will happen to councillors who have not been sworn in after more than the seven days prescribed by law.The Ministry cannot interfere where the process took on legal twists, said the Deputy Minister.”We have sent a letter to the Swapo headquarters encouraging them to find an amicable solution,” said Gerhard Toetemeyer, the Deputy Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing, which oversees the smooth administration of cities, towns and villages.”That is how far we can go,” Toetemeyer told The Namibian this week.The letter of appeal to Swapo has been written only in the cases of Karibib and Usakos.The ruling party has opposed the alliance between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Congress of Democrats (CoD), which is reported to have angered the Swapo leadership.UDF councillors have reported that Swapo asked them to break up the post-election coalition if they were to expect co-operation.At Karibib and Usakos, Swapo won three of the seven seats during the municipal elections held on May 14.The CoD and UDF took two seats each at Usakos, while at Karibib the UDF took two, the CoD one and the DTA one.Other reports say Swapo had been unable to decide who to put into council at Karibib and had changed the order of the candidates by the end of last week.At Opuwo, where Swapo obtained three of seven seats, the ruling party is reported to have a legitimate challenge in questioning the outcome of the election.It claims that some of the people who registered to vote there did not live at the town.The absence of councils has stalled the decision-making machinery at the towns, allowing town clerks there to assume total control.No policy decisions can be taken.According to Toetemeyer, the day-to-day administration continued unhindered.In fact, at Opuwo, the town clerk had been found to be running the place almost single-handedly against the law, said Toetemeyer, who pointed out that a new council could help get the Kaoko regional capital on the road for proper administration.It is not clear what will happen to councillors who have not been sworn in after more than the seven days prescribed by law.The Ministry cannot interfere where the process took on legal twists, said the Deputy Minister.