Stefanus Nashama
The City of Windhoek clarified the incident in which two young men interrupted the proceedings of the Ordinary Council Meeting last week.
According to Lydia Amutenya, the City of Windhoek’s spokesperson, the two individuals requested to use the reading room at Katutura Community Hall for training purposes.
“Their grievance is centred around a reading room located at Katutura Community Hall, which is managed by the city’s Economic Development and Community Services Department,” she stated.
Amutenya also explained that the individuals expressed dissatisfaction with the services offered by the municipality’s employees.
She added that they also called for the removal of the municipality’s chief executive officer, Moses Matyayi.
“During the meeting, two individuals interrupted the proceedings to express their dissatisfaction with the services provided by city employees and called for the removal of the Chief Executive Officer and the Strategic Executive for Economic Development and Community Services,” she said.
The two young men stood up angrily and unexpectedly, and the officials asked them to leave the meeting.
Amutenya said the reading room serves as a peaceful space for students to complete homework, study, engage in group discussions, and get ready for exams.
She mentioned there have been ongoing requests to convert this room into a training facility.
However, the request was not approved, prioritising the needs of the youth and the community.
“The individuals who disrupted the meeting are among those seeking to convert the reading room into a training room,” she said.
She further explained that the men have been frustrated by the disapproval of turning the reading room into a training venue and have accused management of incompetence.
Amutenya added that the City of Windhoek is committed to treating all resident complaints with seriousness and respect.
“We encourage constructive engagement through the proper channels to foster dialogue and community development,” she stated.
She also urged all stakeholders to avoid slander, unfounded allegations, and disruptions of meetings.
“Effective collaboration is vital for nurturing an inclusive and responsive community. We have full confidence in our management and their continued efforts to deliver high-quality services and address resident needs, including those of the youth,” she stressed.
She highlighted the city’s commitment to advancing youth development and announced an upcoming public review of an inclusive youth development policy, scheduled for October 2024.
