Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has urged councillors to provide their input on the draft local authorities amendment bill during the December recess period.
This has, however, been met with suspicion by councillors.
Most local authority officials were on leave during this time.
The circular with this request was issued in December, with the due date for the submission of input being 31 January.
City of Windhoek councillor Ivan Skrywer says the amendments are crucial and would have far-reaching consequences if not carefully scrutinised.
“What’s in these amendments that we should do during the holidays? It’s very suspicious. Why the rush in December?
“They are feeling the pressure from councils which have been taken over by opposition parties. We know what is happening,” he says.
Skrywer proposes that the minister reconsider the deadline to allow for proper consultation when the relevant officials are available.
Karibib mayor Davey van Wyk says: “We won’t be able to attend to this.”
Tsumeb mayor Mathew Hangula questions the minister’s motive.
“The ministry knows no councillor is working in December.
“It’s the month during which local authorities are on recess. How do you get input from people who have already switched their minds off?” he asks.
Walvis Bay councillor Richard Hoaeb has requested an extension for input since the legislative amendments would have a long-term impact on the operations of local authorities.
Additionally, he says the ministry should have channelled the request through the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (Alan) and not individual municipalities.
“There must be a process of engagement. Let all local authorities finish their submissions and send them to Alan. Alan can arrange a meeting with all the local authorities, and we can all go through the bill together with the ministry.
“This is a more open and transparent process,” he says.
The proposed amendments are derived from the Local Authority Reform Paper of 2013, which is yet to be implemented.
Proposals include for the act to make provision for the reclassification of local authorities.
This is because some villages and towns have grown beyond their classification at independence in terms of population growth and economic activities.
It also proposes the decentralisation of power.
Local authorities currently need ministerial approval to execute most of their operations.
Another issue brought up in the reform paper is for the act to provide for a local authority funding framework with specific conditions and criteria.
Currently there are no specific criteria on how development funding is distributed, with local authorities receiving funds from the central government without explanation.
In April last year, the Namibia Association of Local Authority Officers (Nalao) made a submission on the expanded recommendation of the Local Authority Reform Paper of 2013 under the theme ‘Financing Local Government in Namibia’.
The document proposed the implementation of quick-win activities, while legally binding amendments may take too long due to processes and structures.
Some of the proposals include creating a formal system of governance where central, regional and local governments function as a cohesive whole to address common goals and national priorities.
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