Towns face chance for change

RESIDENTS dissatisfied with the dismal performance of of their town councils over the past year have the opportunity to vote for change in Friday’s Local Authority elections.

Indications are that this discontent could be the reason behind the mushrooming of residents’ associations. This year’s election will see civic organisations attempt to gain power over their political counterparts at Gobabis, Henties Bay, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Omaruru and Windhoek.In addition, a number of new political parties are entering the fray for the first time.It is the first time the Congress of Democrats and breakaway DTA affiliates, the Republican Party and Nudo, will contest local elections.At towns such as Katima Mulilo and Usakos that were embroiled in controversy over the past year, parties in power on these councils have decided to retain most of the embattled current councillors on their candidate lists.Since Swapo came to power at Katima Mulilo during the 1998 election, the town has battled corruption, financial mismanagement and infighting among councillors and town officials.Employees have gone unpaid more than once during the past year and the town is still struggling with intermittent water supply interruptions as a result of the millions of dollars it owes water utility NamWater.At one point, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing had to step in to bring the administration back on track.Nonetheless, Swapo, which holds a majority of five seats on the seven-member council, has decided to retain four of the current incumbents, though they are ranked lower down the list.Three new candidates – John Likando, Judith Muhongo and Georgina Mwiya -top the list, followed by the current Mayor, Michael Mudabeti, Esther Sankwasa, Christopher Ndeleki and Michael Sibuku.DTA councillor Catherine Matengu is once again in the running for re-election but Reagon Musanga has bowed out of the race.For the first time, the CoD and RP as well as a residents’ association, the Katima Mulilo Development Action, will join the fray at the north-eastern town.USAKOSAt Usakos, all except one of the current incumbents, who is no longer resident at the town, have retained places on their party’s lists.This is despite months of community protests against the way the town’s affairs have been managed and the fight for improved services.The United Democratic Front (UDF) and Swapo currently each hold three seats, while the DTA has one.Here too, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing had to help in the administration of the town.In addition to these three parties, the CoD and RP will test the waters at the town for the first time.Among the CoD’s candidates is outspoken community activist Daniel Stramis who has been at the forefront of much of the recent resident action as part of the Concerned Group.KHORIXASAt another UDF stronghold, Khorixas, the party appears to be satisfied with a decision it took in February to replace three of its representatives on the town council.Their list of candidates includes all four of their current representatives.When Mayor Gerson /Gaogoseb, Chairman of the Management Committee Erwin /Howaseb and Management Committee Member Petrus Ukongo were removed from office, UDF President Justus //Garoeb said that the move was made because the trio no longer served the interests of residents.The only DTA councillor on the town council, Juliana Bachmann, is also standing for re-election – however, this time as a CoD candidate.She is second on their candidates’ list.Both Swapo councillors, Ralius Gowaseb and Bernadette Jagger, are up for re-election but are only placed fourth and fifth respectively on the party list.The CoD will also contest local authority elections at Khorixas.OTAVIFollowing Friday’s polls, another beleaguered town council, Otavi, will find itself downgraded to village status.As the only town where a residents’ association holds the majority of council seats, the Otavi Residents’ Association (Ora) has only retained two of its members for re-election – the Mayor, Immanuel Kaundje, and Johanna Garas.In February, Ora gave former Mayor Markus Damaseb the boot along with the then Deputy Mayor Magdalena Noarises and the Chairman of the Management Committee, Gerson Gamibeb.They were replaced by Garas, Martha Mukuwe and Laurentius Ihuhua.Mukuwe and Ihuhua have served for only two months but are not up for re-election.Instead Renate Hases, Johannes Haseb and Christina Iunechas make up Ora’s list of candidates for the village council.Swapo, which currently holds two seats on the council, and the CoD will also run for office here.This year’s election will see civic organisations attempt to gain power over their political counterparts at Gobabis, Henties Bay, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Omaruru and Windhoek.In addition, a number of new political parties are entering the fray for the first time.It is the first time the Congress of Democrats and breakaway DTA affiliates, the Republican Party and Nudo, will contest local elections.At towns such as Katima Mulilo and Usakos that were embroiled in controversy over the past year, parties in power on these councils have decided to retain most of the embattled current councillors on their candidate lists.Since Swapo came to power at Katima Mulilo during the 1998 election, the town has battled corruption, financial mismanagement and infighting among councillors and town officials.Employees have gone unpaid more than once during the past year and the town is still struggling with intermittent water supply interruptions as a result of the millions of dollars it owes water utility NamWater.At one point, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing had to step in to bring the administration back on track.Nonetheless, Swapo, which holds a majority of five seats on the seven-member council, has decided to retain four of the current incumbents, though they are ranked lower down the list.Three new candidates – John Likando, Judith Muhongo and Georgina Mwiya -top the list, followed by the current Mayor, Michael Mudabeti, Esther Sankwasa, Christopher Ndeleki and Michael Sibuku.DTA councillor Catherine Matengu is once again in the running for re-election but Reagon Musanga has bowed out of the race.For the first time, the CoD and RP as well as a residents’ association, the Katima Mulilo Development Action, will join the fray at the north-eastern town.USAKOSAt Usakos, all except one of the current incumbents, who is no longer resident at the town, have retained places on their party’s lists.This is despite months of community protests against the way the town’s affairs have been managed and the fight for improved services.The United Democratic Front (UDF) and Swapo currently each hold three seats, while the DTA has one.Here too, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing had to help in the administration of the town.In addition to these three parties, the CoD and RP will test the waters at the town for the first time.Among the CoD’s candidates is outspoken community activist Daniel Stramis who has been at the forefront of much of the recent resident action as part of the Concerned Group.KHORIXASAt another UDF stronghold, Khorixas, the party appears to be satisfied with a decision it took in February to replace three of its representatives on the town council.Their list of candidates includes all four of their current representatives.When Mayor Gerson /Gaogoseb, Chairman of the Management Committee Erwin /Howaseb and Management Committee Member Petrus Ukongo were removed from office, UDF President Justus //Garoeb said that the move was made because the trio no longer served the interests of residents.The only DTA councillor on the town council, Juliana Bachmann, is also standing for re-election – however, this time as a CoD candidate.She is second on their candidates’ list.Both Swapo councillors, Ralius Gowaseb and Bernadette Jagger, are up for re-election but are only placed fourth and fifth respectively on the party list.The CoD will also contest local authority elections
at Khorixas.OTAVIFollowing Friday’s polls, another beleaguered town council, Otavi, will find itself downgraded to village status.As the only town where a residents’ association holds the majority of council seats, the Otavi Residents’ Association (Ora) has only retained two of its members for re-election – the Mayor, Immanuel Kaundje, and Johanna Garas.In February, Ora gave former Mayor Markus Damaseb the boot along with the then Deputy Mayor Magdalena Noarises and the Chairman of the Management Committee, Gerson Gamibeb.They were replaced by Garas, Martha Mukuwe and Laurentius Ihuhua.Mukuwe and Ihuhua have served for only two months but are not up for re-election.Instead Renate Hases, Johannes Haseb and Christina Iunechas make up Ora’s list of candidates for the village council.Swapo, which currently holds two seats on the council, and the CoD will also run for office here.