Africa-Press – Namibia. THE //Kharas Regional Council has resolved to disassociate itself from the Association for Regional Councils (ARC) in Namibia that seeks regional empowerment through community participation and involvement.
THE //Kharas Regional Council has resolved to disassociate itself from the Association for Regional Councils (ARC) in Namibia that seeks regional empowerment through community participation and involvement.
During the ARC’s last elective congress, the chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council, Josef Isaaks, remarked that the association had allegedly proved to be politically affiliated to Swapo instead of providing development assistance to the regions.
According to Isaaks, the //Kharas Regional Council showed disunity in that it was the only council that nominated two councillors for positions while the other regions supported one candidate each.
“We cannot have such disunity across the council. Therefore, we are of the opinion that the //Kharas Regional Council must cease being a member of the ARC,” said Isaaks.
Isaaks contested for the position of ARC president at the congress, but lost.
For the ARC executive, !Nami-≠Nus constituency councillor Suzan Ndjaleka was nominated by Karasburg West councillor Toini Kanyemba and seconded by Oranjemund constituency councillor Lazarus Nangolo of Swapo, while Isaaks was nominated by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillors Gerrit Witbooi and seconded by LPM’s Enseline Beukes.
He said, at the occasion, prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who officiated at the event, first held a caucus session with Swapo councillors only.
“If we came to advance regional development, why must there be private meetings among Swapo ministers and councillors, while others are left roaming around the corridors?”
“The association is not a statutory body, so we are not forced by law or any legal instrument to be a part of this voluntary association,” said the chairperson.
LPM councillor Jeremiah Goeieman said there is no benefit from the ARC to justify the annual contribution of N$40 000.
The council is now looking into income-generating avenues where it can rather channel the N$40 000 as an investment, Goeieman added.
Swapo councillor Ndjaleka said Isaaks was only interested in the position of president and all councillors supported him in that election. However, the fall out came when Swapo councillors nominated her for the executive position in which Isaaks was reportedly not interested, but the LPM councillors nominated him in retaliation.
“After all that, council resolved that our chairperson should serve on the executive of ARC, but he did not submit the resolution we took to the association. Therefore, withdrawing from the ARC, an organisation recognised by the line ministry, is immature and baseless to me. These are petty issues. We should be concentrating on service delivery to the residents of the //Kharas region,” said Ndjaleka.
Isaaks said since the resolution was taken during the recent ordinary council meeting, it will be communicated to the ARC to table it at their next congress for the withdrawal to be noted.
During the ARC’s last elective congress, the chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council, Josef Isaaks, remarked that the association had allegedly proved to be politically affiliated to Swapo instead of providing development assistance to the regions.
According to Isaaks, the //Kharas Regional Council showed disunity in that it was the only council that nominated two councillors for positions while the other regions supported one candidate each.
“We cannot have such disunity across the council. Therefore, we are of the opinion that the //Kharas Regional Council must cease being a member of the ARC,” said Isaaks.
Isaaks contested for the position of ARC president at the congress, but lost.
For the ARC executive, !Nami-≠Nus constituency councillor Suzan Ndjaleka was nominated by Karasburg West councillor Toini Kanyemba and seconded by Oranjemund constituency councillor Lazarus Nangolo of Swapo, while Isaaks was nominated by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillors Gerrit Witbooi and seconded by LPM’s Enseline Beukes.
He said, at the occasion, prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who officiated at the event, first held a caucus session with Swapo councillors only.
“If we came to advance regional development, why must there be private meetings among Swapo ministers and councillors, while others are left roaming around the corridors?”
“The association is not a statutory body, so we are not forced by law or any legal instrument to be a part of this voluntary association,” said the chairperson.
LPM councillor Jeremiah Goeieman said there is no benefit from the ARC to justify the annual contribution of N$40 000.
The council is now looking into income-generating avenues where it can rather channel the N$40 000 as an investment, Goeieman added.
Swapo councillor Ndjaleka said Isaaks was only interested in the position of president and all councillors supported him in that election. However, the fall out came when Swapo councillors nominated her for the executive position in which Isaaks was reportedly not interested, but the LPM councillors nominated him in retaliation.
“After all that, council resolved that our chairperson should serve on the executive of ARC, but he did not submit the resolution we took to the association. Therefore, withdrawing from the ARC, an organisation recognised by the line ministry, is immature and baseless to me. These are petty issues. We should be concentrating on service delivery to the residents of the //Kharas region,” said Ndjaleka.
Isaaks said since the resolution was taken during the recent ordinary council meeting, it will be communicated to the ARC to table it at their next congress for the withdrawal to be noted.
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