By Anna Ingwafa
OSHAKATI
The mayors of Oshakati, Ondangwa and Outapi have been re-elected.
Oshakati Mayor Katrina Shimbulu, her Ondangwa counterpart Naftali Andimba and the Mayor of Outapi Matheus Ndeshitila retained their positions as mayors and as chairpersons of their respective town councils.
In Oshakati Henock Hilundwa was re-elected the deputy mayor. There was however a slight change in positions in the management committee. Angelius Iyambo retains his position as management committee chairperson. He is deputized by Loise Shivolo. Previously, she was just a management committee member. Linus Shiimi becomes a management committee member. In the past, he was deputy chairperson of the management committee.
Former mayor Engelbert Atshipara and Vaino Amuthenu are the additional council members.
In her acceptance remarks Mayor of Oshakati Katrina Shimbulu expressed gratitude to the councillors for re-electing her. She promised to guide and steer the council to greater heights through close cooperation with the councillors.
Shimbulu highlighted some of the achievements attained by council. She said council’s last financial year 2007/8 was a success.
“The council managed to relocate the street vendors to the open market (omatala) especially the ones in front of the Angolan Embassy. The development of Oshakati North will be on its way soon and development of a new open market will show its head not in the distant future, while our financial and operational performance is sound – no mismanagement of resources were reported,” said Shimbulu.
Shimbulu said the town has gone through hardships caused by unforeseen floods.
“Both residents and businesses have been affected in many ways. People and their properties were relocated to temporary settlement camps in Ongwediva and Oshakati. Businesses closed their doors and thus lost regular income.
Some employees lost their work and dependent family members were affected,” she said.
She commended all flood benefactors for the support rendered during the floods.
The council, accor-ding to her, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) last month where it stands a good chance to solicit constructive ideas and active participation of the business community when infrastructure planning occurs.
She urged councillors, officials and community members to continue to work hard in order to realize the set goals and objectives of the town.
At Ondangwa, Letty Tuutaleni remains deputy mayor. Members of the management committee also retained their positions after Leonard Negonga was re-elected chairperson of the management committee, Sem Nangolo deputy chairperson of the management committee, Saima Namukwambi member of the management committee, Petrus Shituua alternate member of the management committee and Priskilla Nashandi a council member.
At Outapi, Dr Ndamona Hainyemba remains deputy mayor.
The management committee consists of Simeon Kavila as chairperson, Loinde Nehunga deputy chairperson, Ignatius Mengela as member, Johanna Aindongo as council member and Tobias Beata Kambishi, council member.