Martin Endjala
The Khomas Regional Council has dissolved the Community Development Committee (CDC) at Farm Versailles.
The committee was elected in 2021 and was meant to serve until 2025.
Farm Versailles is a resettlement farm near Dordabis.
The Khomas chief regional officer, Clement Mafwilla, said the decision was taken because of the recurrence of long-running governance and leadership issues among the community.
“A decision to dissolve the then committee and re-elect a new committee was made in consultation with the residents of Farm Versailles. Consequently, elections for a new committee were held on 08 June 2024,” he said.
The new committee consists of Joseph //Garoeb as the chairperson, Renathe Boois as vice chairperson, Kleofas #Nouseb secretary, Shirley Witbooi as vice secretary, Lourencia Howaes as treasurer, Monica Xoagus as vice treasurer, Victor Naugawaseb and Ruben Utsil who will handle maintenance issues, Tonny Wendura as the youth representative, and Fredricka Rooinasie representing people with disabilities.
Mafwila added that the regional council is in the process of issuing letters of termination of service to the old committee.
He called on the residents of Farm Versailles to resolve their issues amicably and work together.
Since 2021, numerous written complaints and petitions, including a vote of no-confidence letter signed by 49 residents of Farm Versailles, have been filed against the CDC.
The dissolution of the committee was not well received by the committee members and some elderly community members.
On Wednesday, a group led by former CDC chairperson Mariana Hansen petitioned the regional council, calling for the withdrawal of the new committee.
The group also demanded the reinstatement of the previous committee with immediate effect.
Given that the committee’s term only ends in November 2025, Hansen argued that the Windhoek Rural Constituency office and Khomas Regional Council’s decision to dismiss them violated the terms of the original appointment.
“This decision sets a concerning precedent. It suggests that committees, regardless of their importance or performance, can be dissolved without due process or explanation. This could discourage capable individuals from participating in future committees, fearing their efforts might be rendered meaningless by arbitrary decisions,” she said.
Joseph //Garoeb, the new interim chairperson of the local development committee, stated that the newly elected 10 committee members are prepared to guide the community towards success and see to its needs.
He said they are ready to discuss the petition with the concerned community members and will respond to it in the best interest of the people, adding that they will support anything that is done in the interest of the people.
He emphasised that the committee in question has not taken any action since its election, citing the exhaustion of the farm infrastructure and the absence of development. He also identified the absence of leadership as the primary reason for the lack of progress.
“For the past two years, almost three years, there has been no community meeting, and I’m on record on that. And that’s why they avoided coming to the meeting. Since the election of the committee, two members have never attended meetings, they absconded, and they never got reprimanded or suspended, and minutes were not taken. So the vote of no confidence from the community was enforced to elect a new committee,” he explained.
According to the vote of no confidence seen by the Windhoek Observer, at a meeting held on 31 December 2023, a resolute majority of the community, constituting over 50%, endorsed the decision.
Three members of the existing committee were present at the meeting and supported the decision.
The lack of transparency, coupled with perceived conflicts of interest and a disregard for community input, are among the many issues that have led to palpable frustration and disillusionment.
