Allexer Namundjembo
Opposition regional councillors in the Erongo region have accused the office of the governor of failing to consult them on the drafting of the programme for the state memorial service for the Founding President Sam Nujoma.
The memorial service will take place on Tuesday in Walvis Bay at the Kuisebmond stadium.
Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor Donatus Tegako, a member of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), said that he was not invited to discuss the programme.
“The program was not discussed with regional councillors. It is the governor’s thing. They probably drafted it with the Swapo regional office,” he said.
Tegako noted that in their regions, regional councillors were used as masters of ceremonies or did the votes of thanks.
“Here we are being reduced to nothing, and we are used to it. Erongo is divided due to political differences,” Tegako added.
Despite being sidelined, Tegako said he will attend the memorial service.
“We do not have any problem, and we are preparing to be physically at the memorial service of our founding father. They have turned the memorial service into a Swapo event, but we are mobilising our community to come in big numbers and pay their last respects to our founding father,” he said.
Walvis Bay Urban Constituency Councillor Deriou Benson, also an IPC member, added that it is not the first time the governor’s office has sidelined the constituency councillor as well as the Mayor of Walvis Bay, Trevino Forbes.
Benson said that on Sunday night, there was a candle-lighting ceremony at the Municipality of Walvis Bay, and none of the councillors were informed about the event.
“We are seeing all kinds of activities happening around Walvis Bay. All of a sudden, potholes are being fixed, and streets are being cleaned. Why should we wait for something to happen for things to progress?” Benson asked.
Benson added that the region has been suffering delays for the past four years due to the non-implementation of council resolutions, which has hampered progress and development.
Kennedy !Haoseb, who is the councillor of the United Democratic Front of Namibia (UDF), is also not on the programme seen by the Windhoek Observer.
Erongo Governor Neville Andre disputed the complaints, saying that the vote of thanks would be done by the regional councillor.
“They probably have the wrong programme. The vote of thanks will be done by the chairperson of the regional council,” he said.
Andre said the region is prepared for the large number of people expected to attend the state memorial service for the founding father.
Nujoma’s remains will arrive at Walvis Bay International Airport and proceed through the town.
“We are paying respect to our founding father, the history of Walvis Bay, where the event will be taking place, which was left behind when the country got its independence, and he fought to make sure that Walvis Bay is part of Namibia” Andre said.
According to the program, the vote of thanks will be done by Arandis Constituency Councillor Benitha Imbamba. She is a member of Swapo.
Other speakers on the programme include Swapo regional coordinator, Daniel Muhura, traditional leaders, Swapo elders and veterans of the liberation struggle.
