KEETMANSHOOP – Landless Peoples’ Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi said the political movement implemented significant positive changes at local authorities since taking over control in the //Kharas and Hardap regions, respectively.
He reasoned this during a press conference in keetmanshoop last weekend.
“We inherited dysfunctional local authority set-ups, where the provision of water and electricity were central challenges that have continued in the //Kharas and Hardap regions unabated,” the LPM chief change campaigner explained. He added it is amazing to see to what extent Swapo mismanaged local authorities in the south of the country. “In terms of governance, it was regrettable to find corrupt Swapo party-affiliated administrators in some local authorities resorting under these two southern regions,” said Swartbooi. He also said some administrators have resigned in the meantime whilst a criminal case for the embezzlement of funds has also been opened.
In terms of service delivery, Swartbooi was confident the LPM has indeed brought about sound changes to the benefit of all residents in Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Bethanie, Gibeon, Stampriet and Maltahöhe.
“Keetmanshoop Municipality is no more in debt to NamPower, whilst LPM is in the process of establishing an entity equal to the Keetmanshoop Electricity Business Unit (KEBU) at the Karasburg Town Council,” he explained.
He also said Karasburg, as opposed to the past – just breaking even, has now made a profit of more than N$6 million from the collection of monies due by users and also the sale of electricity through systems put in place by the political party. “These monies will now be utilised for developing the local authority,” he added. Swartbooi continued that through implementing strategies and putting new systems in place to increase revenue collection, some local authorities, like Gibeon, will soon appoint a CEO.
The party leader further said LPM has achieved remarkable successes in ensuring adequate water supply for residents in the two regions’ local authorities under their control.
“We drilled more boreholes and rehabilitated dysfunctional ones – and in addition installed water desalination treatment plants in these areas, improving access to water for residents,” he said. He also said those local authorities under LPM’s control do not have the luxury of land to be serviced first before being offered to the landless. “We will, as a Christmas gift, avail land to 250 people this year – serviced or not,” assured. He added public flush toilets, which can serve 20 people each, will be erected at these plots, whilst water will be brought closer to beneficiaries with the installation of pre-paid water meters, accordingly.
When approached for comment, Swapo’s //Kharas coordinator Mathew Mumbala said all the officials in those local authorities were employed at the time of Swartbooi being //Kharas regional governor on the ticket of Swapo.
“They (LPM) found sound, operational local authorities with funds, but messed it up so much so that they cannot even appoint CEOs,” he said.
The politician said LPM cannot even run the //Kharas Regional Council properly.
“They only have one representative from the region in the National Council till today with the other two seats vacant, which just clearly shows their political failures,” he added.
Mumbala also advised the Landless Peoples’ Movement leader to go back to Parliament, and proposed for the Local Authorities Act to be amended before they start dishing out unserviced erven. - skluwski@nepc.com.na