DEAR Editor, in pursuing the vision for effective regional government and efficient service delivery to the people, I argue herein that regional councillor’s in each constituency be empowered with competent human and adequate financial resources.
Chapter 12 of the Namibian Constitution establishes the Regional Government (as well as Local Government) and Article 108 thereof provides for the powers of the Regional Councils which are:
To elect members to the National Council;
to exercise within the region for which they have been constituted such executive powers and to perform such duties in connection therewith as may be assigned to them by Act of Parliament and as may be delegated to them by the President; to raise revenue, or share in the revenue raised by the central Government within the regions for which they have been established, as may be determined by Act of Parliament; to exercise powers, perform any other functions and make such by-laws or regulations as may be determined by Act of Parliament (my emphasis).
The Act of Parliament contemplated above is the 1992 Regional Councils Act No. 22 of 1992 wherein is contained the powers, duties, functions, rights and obligations of Regional Councils generally. The constitutional framework as above is well understood. The question that needs asking is: what is the role of the councillor today? In answering this question one can argue that in most parts of the country, beyond Windhoek, the symbolism of the President in any given constituency is the councillor. It is to the councillor that the people look for answers on all socio-economic challenges facing them, including drought, health, education, development and even for shelter from the sun or from the cold. In this particular regard, the government to them becomes the councillor. Despite this universal importance affixed to the councillor, it is common knowledge however that the councillor in his/her constituency has no budget, and has no dedicated team of advisors, and has only two administrative staff members to complement his/her work.
Indeed, the true agent for decentralization is the institution of councillor, but without adequate support such goal is but an illusion. In some instances, it seems as if the councillor becomes a political post office for central government to be sent or told what to do and when to do so. Some often apportion blame on the councillor as being incompetent in this or that area. However, is it not true that what makes the Office of the Minister, Office of the Prime Minister or that of the Office of the President effective is the support team around such offices? Hence the same could apply to the councillor. We often expect miracles from the councilor who has no budget for constituency development fund or one that has no government car to be mobile in the same way as those at Central Government level.
I am of the view therefore that to empower the councillor of any constituency with ample resources both human and financial is to address the bread and butter issues of the electorate namely the masses of our people. These are the same electorate in the constituency who directly elected the councillor. It will be a monumental mistake to ignore or disregard the elected councillor. Equally it will be wrong for ministers, governors or officials of central government to look down on councillors. The voice of the councillor on the media waves is the embraced loudspeaker of the electorate. In summary, as indicated above, the Regional Council has the power “to raise revenue, or share in the revenue raised by the central Government within the regions for which they have been established, as may be determined by Act of Parliament”. And it is here perhaps that one could place emphasis in terms of sourcing funding for constituency development fund or to address the myriad challenges faced by regional councillors. One practical area worth mentioning is funds for the government programme of food for work or cash for work. This programe has the practical potential of reducing poverty in rural households that have no one employed. If a community in an informal settlement were to seek food from the office of the councillor, it could be feasible for such a councillor to tap into that fund to assist such a family. In the event of uncertainty as to the capacity and accountability for such expenditure, the team of advisors may include a financial management expert or an accountant teacher, whatever the case may be, to assist the councillor in the execution of this responsibility.
It is imperative finally that society must begin to accord the councillor the status and respect of an elected political office bearer. Where there is need for training, the councillor must be trained; where there is need for funding, the councillor must be funded; where there is need for a government car, the councillor must be availed with such a car; and there is logic for the councillor of each constituency to be allocated airtime on the national broadcaster to daily interact with the electorate and speaking in the language of choice. I am thus advocating for commonsense approach in the actualization of the above-stated important matters. May I avail myself of this opportunity to also wish all Regional Councilors a Merry Christmas and Prosperous 2014.
Dr Elijah Ngurare