Watching Katima go down the drain

IT is the beginning of the year and not even two months have passed without the mention of the Katima Mulilo Town Council in the print media.

It won’t be long before the name resurfaces again. For the past two months, employees of the Katima Town Council have not received their salaries on time [or only partially].Worker’s benefits such as insurance premiums etc. are not being paid over to insurance companies.It stuns me – and many others [I’m sure] – that the Town Council has a bank balance of N$100 000 in their account at all times.Does this mean that, no matter how residents pay up, this just doesn’t make any difference to the town’s bank balance?Where is the money that is being collected monthly? Is there a secret account that we are not aware off where this money is banked or is it simply squandered on useless projects such as the failed water pre-payment system?[Where is] the long-awaited tarring of the town’s roads, the so long-awaited proper building for the council’s offices after thirteen years of Namibia’s re-birth?The sewerage system also needs attention, but the excuse by the council’s management is that they do not have enough money.You should not implement a programme for installing prepaid water meter systems without running a pilot project to ascertain whether it will generate income.Some small municipalities around the country have also experienced problems, but they have tried to do development here and there – unlike the Katima Town Council.This is an indication that management is incompetent and ill-advised.Since the entire management of the municipality has failed to run the affairs of the town [properly], it is time for them to pack up and go.New blood with a vision should be appointed that has the town’s interest at heart.Intervention by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing is necessary.They should consider stripping the town of its status and changing it to a village council but many people in the region would not opt for this.We cannot stand by and watch our town go down the drain instead of prospering – lets speak up!Yours,- Simataa Wa Mwilima – Via e-mailFor the past two months, employees of the Katima Town Council have not received their salaries on time [or only partially]. Worker’s benefits such as insurance premiums etc. are not being paid over to insurance companies.It stuns me – and many others [I’m sure] – that the Town Council has a bank balance of N$100 000 in their account at all times. Does this mean that, no matter how residents pay up, this just doesn’t make any difference to the town’s bank balance?Where is the money that is being collected monthly? Is there a secret account that we are not aware off where this money is banked or is it simply squandered on useless projects such as the failed water pre-payment system?[Where is] the long-awaited tarring of the town’s roads, the so long-awaited proper building for the council’s offices after thirteen years of Namibia’s re-birth? The sewerage system also needs attention, but the excuse by the council’s management is that they do not have enough money.You should not implement a programme for installing prepaid water meter systems without running a pilot project to ascertain whether it will generate income.Some small municipalities around the country have also experienced problems, but they have tried to do development here and there – unlike the Katima Town Council.This is an indication that management is incompetent and ill-advised. Since the entire management of the municipality has failed to run the affairs of the town [properly], it is time for them to pack up and go. New blood with a vision should be appointed that has the town’s interest at heart.Intervention by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing is necessary. They should consider stripping the town of its status and changing it to a village council but many people in the region would not opt for this. We cannot stand by and watch our town go down the drain instead of prospering – lets speak up!Yours,- Simataa Wa Mwilima – Via e-mail