Landless People’s Movement (LPM) branch secretary at Otjiwarongo, Sebetius Guiteb has labelled the operations at the Otjiwarongo municipality as that of a ‘secret organisation’.
Guiteb who serves as a local authority councillor and a member of the management committee of that municipality, at a recent media conference, alleged that the municipality is secretive in its dealings, charging that illegal activities are suspected to be happening there.
“Worse, the institution is so secretive that even me as a councillor, I cannot find answers to several concerns affecting this town,” he said.
He further alleged that council decisions are made outside the council and only shared with the municipality councillors, particularly on land deals at the town’s Extension 12, Extension 13, the Heroes Park and Freedom Park residential areas where serviced plots are still on sale.
The LPM councillor went on to accuse the municipality’s chief executive officer (CEO), Moses Matyayi, of running the institution like a secret service organisation, and of allegiance with the four Swapo Party local authority councillors.
Matyayi in an email response to Nampa reacted to Guiteb’s claims, saying they are unfounded, malicious and a figment of his imagination.
“The claimant’s innuendo is also intended to score undeserved cheap political points for his personal gratification,” said Matyayi.
The CEO further explained that as the Otjiwarongo local authority council is established by an Act of Parliament and that of the Local Authorities Act of 1992, councillors and officials should serve with diligence and safeguard the well-being of residents by creating a conducive environment.
“As we are not a military intelligence operation to be secretive of our operations, this institution is a public organisation governed by the rule of law and good corporate governance principles, thus the councillor’s allegations carry no relevance in the municipality setup, [it is] rather his political ploy,” concluded Matyayi.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency