Uis Council playing hide and seek with residents

IN an apparent attempt to buy time, the Uis Village Council has cancelled a community meeting planned for today to address alleged irregularities and mismanagement in the local authority.

The newly elected Mayor of this former mining town, Annalise Touros, issued a statement yesterday saying the petition in which the allegations were raised by residents was politically motivated. Community activist Lauritha Tsaraes organised a second demonstration on Monday after Council refused to agree to a demand for a community meeting on March 24.The protesters were informed on Monday that a community meeting was planned for this afternoon to respond to the various issues raised in the petition.In her statement Touros said yesterday: “An investigation on the origin of the petition revealed that the content of the petition was not from the so called ‘Concerned Residents of Uis Community’, but from a certain political party as part of its election campaign.”She said the majority of the signatories on the petition acknowledged they had been mislead by the organisers.According to the Mayor her Council has resolved to postpone the meeting to give the concerned group time to further investigate their allegations.”Council would like a report from them with facts,” the Town Secretary, Zebedeus /Uiseb told The Namibian.He said new issues were raised in the second petition handed over on Monday.”We want the community to put all the issues on the table before we respond to them.”Organisers of the demonstration were upset with the turn of events yesterday.One community activist said Council was trying to buy time as it did not know what to tell the community.The Mayor apparently announced the cancellation of the meeting on the NBC Nama/Damara radio service.”This has angered residents.The whole town is talking about it,” said Cornelia Atjiwara.Two members of the concerned group challenged the Mayor’s statement that they were politically motivated saying members of different parties were taking part in the demonstrations.”We are under no political influence.If we see irregularities, why should we keep quiet? Why is Council scared to face the community?” The petition raised a list of nine concerns residents wanted answers on.Apart from concerns on water problems, poor communication between Council and the community, maintenance of houses and new developments, residents want to know about the Council’s financial situation and the distribution of drought relief food.The concerned group said they were going to meet last night to decide on a further plan of action.Community activist Lauritha Tsaraes organised a second demonstration on Monday after Council refused to agree to a demand for a community meeting on March 24.The protesters were informed on Monday that a community meeting was planned for this afternoon to respond to the various issues raised in the petition.In her statement Touros said yesterday: “An investigation on the origin of the petition revealed that the content of the petition was not from the so called ‘Concerned Residents of Uis Community’, but from a certain political party as part of its election campaign.”She said the majority of the signatories on the petition acknowledged they had been mislead by the organisers.According to the Mayor her Council has resolved to postpone the meeting to give the concerned group time to further investigate their allegations.”Council would like a report from them with facts,” the Town Secretary, Zebedeus /Uiseb told The Namibian.He said new issues were raised in the second petition handed over on Monday.”We want the community to put all the issues on the table before we respond to them.”Organisers of the demonstration were upset with the turn of events yesterday.One community activist said Council was trying to buy time as it did not know what to tell the community.The Mayor apparently announced the cancellation of the meeting on the NBC Nama/Damara radio service.”This has angered residents.The whole town is talking about it,” said Cornelia Atjiwara.Two members of the concerned group challenged the Mayor’s statement that they were politically motivated saying members of different parties were taking part in the demonstrations.”We are under no political influence.If we see irregularities, why should we keep quiet? Why is Council scared to face the community?” The petition raised a list of nine concerns residents wanted answers on.Apart from concerns on water problems, poor communication between Council and the community, maintenance of houses and new developments, residents want to know about the Council’s financial situation and the distribution of drought relief food.The concerned group said they were going to meet last night to decide on a further plan of action.