Africa-Press – Namibia. OPPOSITION parties in the Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC) are threatening to boycott the electoral process tomorrow if there is no rotation of strategic council positions.
Lister Shamalaza was elected as Katima Mulilo mayor in 2020, with Christina Simanga as deputy mayor, and John Ntemwa elected as chairperson of the management committee.
These councillors are on Swapo’s ticket, and were re-elected last year.
Swapo currently has the majority of seats in the council, while the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) each have one seat.
Officials from the respective opposition parties yesterday said for proper development to take place at the town, a change of leadership is needed – especially regarding the positions of mayor, deputy mayor, and chairperson of the management committee.
Hence, opposition councillors should also be granted the opportunity to serve in key positions, they said.
IPC councillor Charles Musiyalike said: “There is no provision in the Local Authorities Act that provides for one-sided political majority nomination for the key political office-bearer positions.
“Being elected to these key positions does not mean you will be automatically re-elected every year, like the current trend at the Katima Mulilo Town Council, which is ultra vires in terms of the principle of law.
“I know for sure that corruption and disregarding the rule of law have always been the order of the day under the current regime. Holding multiple portfolios has never been considered a potential conflict of interest.”
PDM regional coordinator Geoffrey Mwilima said it is time for the town council to realise the key positions are not meant for the majority party only – hence the need for a rotational system.
“It’s not a secret, we will boycott the electoral process if need be, since these strategic positions in the council need competent councillors to bring change to our town,” he said.
“As things stand, everything about the KMTC council has gone down the drain, and corruption is the order of the day, involving even the councillors and town administrators themselves.
NDP councillor Watson Kalaluka said they are expecting a special council meeting with the Swapo councillors in the next two days, and if they are not in agreement with the rotation of leadership, the opposition will “most definitely” boycott the upcoming elective process slated for tomorrow.
Questions sent to Shamalaza yesterday went unanswered.
Lister Shamalaza was elected as Katima Mulilo mayor in 2020, with Christina Simanga as deputy mayor, and John Ntemwa elected as chairperson of the management committee.
These councillors are on Swapo’s ticket, and were re-elected last year.
Swapo currently has the majority of seats in the council, while the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) each have one seat.
Officials from the respective opposition parties yesterday said for proper development to take place at the town, a change of leadership is needed – especially regarding the positions of mayor, deputy mayor, and chairperson of the management committee.
Hence, opposition councillors should also be granted the opportunity to serve in key positions, they said.
IPC councillor Charles Musiyalike said: “There is no provision in the Local Authorities Act that provides for one-sided political majority nomination for the key political office-bearer positions.
“Being elected to these key positions does not mean you will be automatically re-elected every year, like the current trend at the Katima Mulilo Town Council, which is ultra vires in terms of the principle of law.
“I know for sure that corruption and disregarding the rule of law have always been the order of the day under the current regime. Holding multiple portfolios has never been considered a potential conflict of interest.”
PDM regional coordinator Geoffrey Mwilima said it is time for the town council to realise the key positions are not meant for the majority party only – hence the need for a rotational system.
“It’s not a secret, we will boycott the electoral process if need be, since these strategic positions in the council need competent councillors to bring change to our town,” he said.
“As things stand, everything about the KMTC council has gone down the drain, and corruption is the order of the day, involving even the councillors and town administrators themselves.
NDP councillor Watson Kalaluka said they are expecting a special council meeting with the Swapo councillors in the next two days, and if they are not in agreement with the rotation of leadership, the opposition will “most definitely” boycott the upcoming elective process slated for tomorrow.
Questions sent to Shamalaza yesterday went unanswered.
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