WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA
President Hifikepunye Pohamba has instructed Regional and Local Government Minister Charles Namoloh to sort out several issues at the Omaruru municipality, including the council's continued refusal to reinstate a suspended Swapo councillor.
This was confirmed by a source close to the unfolding events.
The battle of wills between the local authority and Namoloh centres on suspended Swapo councillor Phillip Nghipandulwa, who Namoloh wants reinstated because according to him the suspension was illegal.
But the local authority says Nghipandulwa, who was allegedly found guilty of leaking sensitive council information, will not be reinstated due to a standing council resolution, and his suspension is valid for one month.
Another issue that has heightened the animosity between Namoloh and the council was a decision by Mayor Vincent Kahua to go on a trip to Sweden with six other council officials without Namoloh's approval.
This move prompted Namoloh to put a four-month ban all foreign trips by all regional governors, chairpersons of regional councils, mayors, chief regional officers and town chief executive officers.
The council also refused to reinstate four suspended municipal officials - former human resources manager Roswitha Kaura, former corporate and community development officer Ephraim Katjatenja, finance manager Penda Nghaamwa and fleet manager Waltar Kanguatjivi.
A ministerial investigation at the Omaruru municipality has unearthed irregularities involving the top brass of the town council - some of whom have allegedly acquired municipal campsites for themselves as well as tailor-made houses through the Build Together housing initiative.
On August 30, 2013, Namoloh sent a letter summoning the entire town council to explain why it had not implemented the recommendations contained in the investigation report.
Among the many explanations the council had to give are why it has a N$40 000 entertainment allowance instead of N$10 000; why the CEO paid some staff members N$1 000 each for hard work; as well as why three tenders were awarded to one family - including a N$2,1 million interlock paving tender.
The meeting, which was scheduled to take place last Friday, was called off, allegedly because the Omaruru officials did not prepare a presentation.
In a letter sent to Namoloh two days before the planned meeting, Kahua wrote: "The council resolved that most issues under consideration are of an administrative nature and [were] referred back to the management committee for deliberation."
Although Namoloh's recommendations were sent to the council almost a month ago, Kahua maintains that the management committee could not meet and did not make the necessary submissions to the council.
In that letter, Kahua requested Namoloh to forward the terms of reference of the investigation and the original ministerial letter regarding the investigation.
"The council would however still desire to meet with yourself on Friday, September 6, 2013 as suggested, but however to discuss other issues pertaining to development of Omaruru municipality," it reads.
On September 5, Namoloh responded: "If the council has not prepared a written presentation as I have requested, I am not prepared to meet the council."
The minister has since sought advice from President Pohamba, who has apparently ordered him to use his ministerial powers to sort out the matter once and for all.
During an earlier interview with Namibian Sun, Namoloh said his powers range from dissolving the entire council or suspending the council or some councillors. He was, however, tight-lipped as to which action he plans on taking.
If he does dissolve the council this would lead to by-elections and spark new controversy, because a new voters' roll has to be compiled countrywide ahead of next year's polls.
Attorney-General Albert Kawana said the two parties must find a way to work with each other.
"These local authorities always run to the government through the minister to ask for financial assistance. How can you defy someone who funds 90% of your budget? Is that wise?" said Kawana.