Uis residents demand answers from Council

RESIDENTS of the former mining town of Uis on Monday protested against alleged irregularities and mismanagement in the Village Council.

It was the second protest march in a month. Residents said Monday’s march was organised after the Council refused to agree to a demand for a community meeting on March 24.The town’s newly elected Mayor, Annelise Tauros, sent one of her Councillors to accept the petition on Monday, with a message that Council was working on a response to issues raised in the petition.Tauros told The Namibian yesterday that a community meeting was planned for 17h00 tomorrow.She did not want to comment on the petition, saying all concerns would be addressed at the meeting.The petition mentions nine issues residents want answered.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.They want Council to produce a financial statement to clarify monthly income and expenditure, funds available for the social housing project, how much Council owes NamWater, the size of the tender for the installation of water meters, and personal claims made by Councillors and employees.”When do you qualify to claim from Council?” they ask in the petition.Residents also refer to certain tasks and jobs performed at Council offices and ask whether these are private of official business.They claim that the distribution of drought relief food is being done “unfairly” and want to know who appointed the current committee.Other issues addressed in the petition concern money charged for the graveyard on their monthly accounts, as residents are still expected to dig graves themselves.They also want to know why Council houses are not maintained and why different rents apply.Several questions related to the pre-paid water meter system are also raised.Council last year awarded a tender of N$1,2 million for the replacement of the water reticulation system to replace all the old pipes with new ones.The more than 2 200 residents of the town are largely dependent on tourism for some income as there are not many other opportunities.Uis is the gateway to the majestic Brandberg mountain.Residents said Monday’s march was organised after the Council refused to agree to a demand for a community meeting on March 24.The town’s newly elected Mayor, Annelise Tauros, sent one of her Councillors to accept the petition on Monday, with a message that Council was working on a response to issues raised in the petition.Tauros told The Namibian yesterday that a community meeting was planned for 17h00 tomorrow.She did not want to comment on the petition, saying all concerns would be addressed at the meeting.The petition mentions nine issues residents want answered.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.They want Council to produce a financial statement to clarify monthly income and expenditure, funds available for the social housing project, how much Council owes NamWater, the size of the tender for the installation of water meters, and personal claims made by Councillors and employees.”When do you qualify to claim from Council?” they ask in the petition.Residents also refer to certain tasks and jobs performed at Council offices and ask whether these are private of official business.They claim that the distribution of drought relief food is being done “unfairly” and want to know who appointed the current committee.Other issues addressed in the petition concern money charged for the graveyard on their monthly accounts, as residents are still expected to dig graves themselves.They also want to know why Council houses are not maintained and why different rents apply.Several questions related to the pre-paid water meter system are also raised.Council last year awarded a tender of N$1,2 million for the replacement of the water reticulation system to replace all the old pipes with new ones.The more than 2 200 residents of the town are largely dependent on tourism for some income as there are not many other opportunities.Uis is the gateway to the majestic Brandberg mountain.