KAMANJAB - The chairperson of Kamanjab Village Council, Jan Niklaas Hendriks, 51, resigned early this month due to alleged interference by the Swapo District Executive Committee Coordinator Samora Katjau.
Katjau has denied the allegation that he interfered or that he frustrated Hendriks, a fellow Swapo member to resign from the coveted position.
Hendriks told New Era yesterday that his efforts have been frustrated at every District Executive Committee of Swapo (DEC) meeting.
“It’s painful for me. I cannot take it any longer as I am human too,” said an emotional Hendriks.
Hendriks revealed that each time the DEC had a meeting ,it’s all about the local authority issues and personal attacks. The issue of undermining the councillors representing Swapo is said to have been happening since 2010. “The councillors are guided by the Local Authority Act and Code of Conduct. We also attended several workshops (Legal Framework and Induction course) from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development on how to undertake decisions,” Hendriks said.
Hendriks was also an ordinary councillor representing Swapo from 2009 to 2014.
“We don’t discuss developmental issues. No issues on uplifting our people’s living standards are discussed,” Hendriks said. He continued discussions are all about whose given plots due to tribe they belong to especially Damara speaking beneficiaries.
Last month, a daily newspaper also published a sms in which Hendriks was accused of dishing out land to people from Anker and Erwee settlement that are predominantly seen as Damara areas.
New Era was further informed that elected representatives do not have power to make decisions and that the councillors have to only undertake decisions taken by Katjau.
Hendriks is adamant he has got nothing against Swapo party but against Samora (Katjau’s) leadership. “It’s not Swapo party I have issues with but it’s Samora’s decisions. Decisions taken by us as councillors could not bind,” Hendriks blasted. According to him, the deputy chairperson Ricardo Mbahee was allegedly asked not to attend the meeting held on 24th August by Katjau, the meeting dealt with issue of appointing an acting village secretary after George Mazanbani’s term as acting village secretary was not renewed due to his poor performance. Mazanbani has been acting as village secretary since February. Hendriks added that the councillors informaly agreed to let Jacobus Buruxa Namaseb act in the position of village secretary since he was previously a village secretary.
Priska Mutrifa who represents Swapo together with Hendriks and Cristabela Mbarondongo were present in that meeting which Namaseb was appointed as acting village secretary.
A councillor who spoke on condition of anonymity told this newspaper that Namaseb’s appointment as acting village secretary is not supported by Katjau as he is a UDF member. The vacancy for the position of village secretary was advertised on 28th August and applications will close on 28th September.
Hendriks said due to infighting within the party, focus to develop the village has been lost. “Too much time is spent on infighting than developmental issues. Leaders have lost vision due to infighting,” he said.
Hendriks said Katjau wanted the councillors to fire the previous village secretary Pieter Ludwig Gurirab.
The resignation letter dated 3rd September 2018 which is address to district coordinator for Swapo, read, “I, Jan Niklaas Hendriks who is serving as the chairperson of Kamanjab Village Council hereby declare and inform you that I am no longer going to serve the following positions. The positions Hendriks resigned are that of the councillor of Kamanjab village council, chairperson of Kamanjab village council, branch coordinator of Dr Hage Geingob Branch, section leader for Pendukeni Ivula Ithana section and all the portfolio’s which is going together with the above-mentioned positions.”
When asked about Hendriks’ resignation, Katjau responded, “Its lies. As head of the party I implement what the party (Swapo) wants. I did not ask anyone to resign. Who am I to ask anyone to resign.”