Martin Endjala
The Walvis Bay mayor, Trevino Forbes has condemned the actions of councillors who have been disrupting council meetings, a practice he said he could no longer tolerate.
On Tuesday, Swapo councillors Paulus Kauhondwamwa, Albertina Nkoshi, Ephraim Shozi, and Landless Movement Councillor Ryan Gordon held the council meeting, demanding answers on the legitimacy of the appointment of the acting chief executive officer, David Uushona.
The matter was not part of the adopted agenda.
According to Forbes, the four have been disrupting meetings when things don’t go the way of the minority.
“We are being threatened and told that the minister must intervene and dissolve the council. We are tired of these remarks from certain councillors. The council cannot be held hostage by the opinion of the minority,” he argued.
He said that after the councillors who were not in agreement left the meeting, they still had a quorum, and the meeting was successfully concluded.
He assured the public that despite last night’s chaos, the council remains determined to deliver services to the residents, arguing that they will not allow a small group of people to deprive residents of services.
“The Local Authority Act guides us, and it says we can appoint any staff member to the position of acting CEO. There is a reference made to a resolution. Still, this resolution basically states that if the CEO is out of office, then only a general manager must be appointed in his position,” said Forbes.
Forbes clarified the confusion, stating that the acting CEO may appoint a GM to act on his behalf, but it does not say that the council may only appoint a GM in the position of acting CEO.
In addition, he said chaos erupts when people don’t follow the rules and standing orders. Forbes further denounced racial remarks made during the chaos, stating that he would not tolerate such behaviour.
“We do not operate in that way. We need to follow the rules, and not only when you bring your rules. The standing rules and code of conduct are what guide me in meetings, and that’s how I operate the council meetings,” Forbes argued.
The mayor declared that he would no longer tolerate such disruptions in the chamber because, in his role as chairperson, he has been far too lenient and allowed them to continue for far too long.
“Democracy and the rule of law will prevail. We follow rules as a council. David Uushona was legally appointed by the management committee. If you look at what is going on at Walvis Bay Council. There’s a group of a few people creating chaos, and it is perceived to be chaos throughout the town,” he said.
He said this chaotic behaviour from certain councillors paints a negative image of the council to outside observers, as it may indicate negative governance.
However, Forbes quickly refuted such notions, asserting that the town is well-governed and under competent management.
He said the ongoing developments in the town are a testament to good governance.
“When people think they have the support of higher political offices, then they think they are untouchable, and they can create this kind of chaos. The majority cannot be led by the minority. We remain steadfast in our work and serving our residents,” he said.
Gordon, who was part of the chaos, excused himself from continuing the meeting.
He told the Windhoek Observer that he does not recognise the appointment of the acting CEO, labelling it as illegitimate.
He said the matter has been reported to the Ministry of Urbanisation and Rural Development and the council was advised to reverse all illegal processes, but nothing has been done to date.
“The chaos that erupted last night, I was simply questioning the legitimacy of the acting CEO’s appointment, but the way some of the councillors were talking to me, I did not like it, and the chairperson just allowed them. LPM and Swapo do not have enough seats like the Independent Patriots for Change, the Walvis Bay Ratepayers Association coalition, and the Popular Democratic Movement,” he argued.
Gordon said that when they disagree with specific decisions, the majority dictates their fate.
He said he sometimes excuses himself from going to meetings because he feels that it’s a waste of time.
“I do not have a problem with Mr. Uushona. But it’s the procedure used to appoint him, and mind you after he got appointed, he also brought back the suspended Redforce individuals to work. Which further raised my suspicion about his appointment. We are out here fighting Redforce, and it looks like he was brought in to support Redforce,” said Gordon.
He disclosed that investigations into the Redforce saga are nearing finalisation, and he hopes the truth will come out.
He argued that the suspended individual ought to stay away from work to avoid interfering in the ongoing investigations.
Frans Gonteb, the general manager of finance, and Johanna Shidute, the finance manager, were suspended.
