Usakos residents to take concerns to Ombudsman

THE Concerned Group of residents at Usakos has not given up on its mission to have Town Councillors removed from office.

The group has turned to the Office of the Ombudsman for assistance after Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, seemingly ignored the community’s pleas on Thursday when he abruptly closed a community meeting without allowing residents enough time to speak. “The people are still unhappy over that meeting,” a member of the Concerned Group told The Namibian on Monday.According to Enemien Leinberger, the only course of action left was to contact the Ombudsman to find out what steps the community could take against councillors accused of corrupt practices.Minister Kaapanda acknowledged in his speech that some councillors had been linked to self-enrichment schemes, but in the same breath appealed to the community to trust their officials and give them another chance.Leinberger said their correspondence with the Prime Minister’s Office had only led to “empty promises”.”The PM’s assistant promised a year ago that he would make time to meet with us,” he said.At the beginning of the year, Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, who hails from Usakos, met with the Town Councils of Henties Bay, Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, but not Usakos.The Concerned Group is also not convinced that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will take the same steps as it did at Khorixas, where it removed the Mayor and two councillors.According to them, Usakos Mayor Michael Goreseb and two UDF councillors at the town are allegedly related to UDF President Justus //Garoeb.”We are hanging in the air like a cloud.People see us and tell us we are doing the right thing, but nobody is prepared to take our side,” said Leinberger.Another issue that has angered and worried the community was the appointment at the end of last year of a new Town Treasurer.The community learned that a loan of N$15 000 was granted to him only a month after he took up the position.”We are unhappy with this man and would like to know where and when his job was advertised,” said Leinberger.Last week the loan issue was brought up in Minister Kaapanda’s meeting with the Town Council.According to Councillor Elmer Eiseb, the Treasurer, Chris Shivolo, applied for a study loan for an MBA course.Kaapanda told the Council to resolve the issue.He said the onus was on the Mayor to prevent the loan from being turned into a political issue.Mayor Goreseb responded that his Council had rejected the decision and directed that Shivolo should pay back the money within a set time.”The people are still unhappy over that meeting,” a member of the Concerned Group told The Namibian on Monday. According to Enemien Leinberger, the only course of action left was to contact the Ombudsman to find out what steps the community could take against councillors accused of corrupt practices. Minister Kaapanda acknowledged in his speech that some councillors had been linked to self-enrichment schemes, but in the same breath appealed to the community to trust their officials and give them another chance. Leinberger said their correspondence with the Prime Minister’s Office had only led to “empty promises”. “The PM’s assistant promised a year ago that he would make time to meet with us,” he said. At the beginning of the year, Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, who hails from Usakos, met with the Town Councils of Henties Bay, Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, but not Usakos. The Concerned Group is also not convinced that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will take the same steps as it did at Khorixas, where it removed the Mayor and two councillors. According to them, Usakos Mayor Michael Goreseb and two UDF councillors at the town are allegedly related to UDF President Justus //Garoeb. “We are hanging in the air like a cloud. People see us and tell us we are doing the right thing, but nobody is prepared to take our side,” said Leinberger. Another issue that has angered and worried the community was the appointment at the end of last year of a new Town Treasurer. The community learned that a loan of N$15 000 was granted to him only a month after he took up the position. “We are unhappy with this man and would like to know where and when his job was advertised,” said Leinberger. Last week the loan issue was brought up in Minister Kaapanda’s meeting with the Town Council. According to Councillor Elmer Eiseb, the Treasurer, Chris Shivolo, applied for a study loan for an MBA course. Kaapanda told the Council to resolve the issue. He said the onus was on the Mayor to prevent the loan from being turned into a political issue. Mayor Goreseb responded that his Council had rejected the decision and directed that Shivolo should pay back the money within a set time.