Usakos Council in place

THE new Usakos Town Council was formally constituted yesterday morning, but not without resistance from Swapo.

The ruling party’s unwillingness to work with the coalition of the UDF and CoD, which obtained two seats each in last month’s local authority elections, once again emerged when they were sworn in by Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt. As happened a fortnight ago when the swearing-in ceremony had to be aborted, Renathe Namases was again elected as Mayor and Chairperson of the Management Committee.The CoD’s Daniel Stramiss and Lood Dwinger, along with the UDF’s Phillemon #Nauseb, were elected to the Management Committee.After Swapo rejected Stramiss’ election to the post following the last swearing-in ceremony, Namases said that all parties had agreed shortly before yesterday’s proceedings that the Deputy Mayor seat could go to one of Swapo’s three councillors.”We agreed to it because we want co-operation and we want to start with work.But then they dropped us,” Namases told The Namibian.When the Magistrate asked Swapo to put forward their nomination for the post, Swapo’s Peter Hermann instead chose Nauseb for the position, instead of his own colleagues.Nauseb declined the post.Namases said yesterday that Swapo’s actions ostensibly appeared to be aimed at causing a stalemate in forming the management committee.Swapo also refused to nominate one of its members to take up the seat of ordinary member on the committee.Herman could not be reached for comment yesterday to explain the party’s position.Town Clerk Sebastiaan !Gobs said yesterday that despite the deadlock over electing a Deputy Mayor and the other committee member, the town’s affairs could be handled with the existing quorum.”The position will be filled at a later stage, if the three Swapo candidates decide to participate in the council proceedings,” he said.In her mayoral acceptance speech, Namases pleaded with all parties to concentrate on the town’s numerous development issues rather than become embroiled in political arguments.”I believe that whenever we enter these council chambers, we are one team.Let us not bring personal issues and politics to the chamber.”She promised to ensure that leaders engaged regularly with the community on what they wanted and on progress in achieving their goals.Next week the Town Council is expected to undergo an induction by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing in financial, personnel, land and asset management.!Gobs said a management committee meeting was planned for next week while the first ordinary Council meeting would be held the following week.As happened a fortnight ago when the swearing-in ceremony had to be aborted, Renathe Namases was again elected as Mayor and Chairperson of the Management Committee.The CoD’s Daniel Stramiss and Lood Dwinger, along with the UDF’s Phillemon #Nauseb, were elected to the Management Committee.After Swapo rejected Stramiss’ election to the post following the last swearing-in ceremony, Namases said that all parties had agreed shortly before yesterday’s proceedings that the Deputy Mayor seat could go to one of Swapo’s three councillors.”We agreed to it because we want co-operation and we want to start with work.But then they dropped us,” Namases told The Namibian.When the Magistrate asked Swapo to put forward their nomination for the post, Swapo’s Peter Hermann instead chose Nauseb for the position, instead of his own colleagues.Nauseb declined the post.Namases said yesterday that Swapo’s actions ostensibly appeared to be aimed at causing a stalemate in forming the management committee.Swapo also refused to nominate one of its members to take up the seat of ordinary member on the committee.Herman could not be reached for comment yesterday to explain the party’s position.Town Clerk Sebastiaan !Gobs said yesterday that despite the deadlock over electing a Deputy Mayor and the other committee member, the town’s affairs could be handled with the existing quorum.”The position will be filled at a later stage, if the three Swapo candidates decide to participate in the council proceedings,” he said.In her mayoral acceptance speech, Namases pleaded with all parties to concentrate on the town’s numerous development issues rather than become embroiled in political arguments.”I believe that whenever we enter these council chambers, we are one team.Let us not bring personal issues and politics to the chamber.”She promised to ensure that leaders engaged regularly with the community on what they wanted and on progress in achieving their goals.Next week the Town Council is expected to undergo an induction by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing in financial, personnel, land and asset management.!Gobs said a management committee meeting was planned for next week while the first ordinary Council meeting would be held the following week.