Russel Titus
Following the local authority elections in November 2020, most local authorities were taken over by new political parties.
In the //Kharas region, the Landless Peoples’ Movement (LPM) took over the reins of most local authorities, including the regional council.
These political parties took over on a ticket of corruption accusations against the ruling party (Fishrot saga) and promises of land acquisition for inhabitants, better housing and other developments to the region.
A few years down the line, after obtaining control of the regional council and local authorities, it seems they did not have any idea on how this should be implemented; it is difficult to find any positive reviews from the public.
//Kharas is the largest region with the lowest population and boasts the presence of all the sectors of the economy, such as mining, fishing, agriculture and cross-border trading.
The poverty indicators show that 7 409 people still live in monetary poverty and 15 771 in multidimensional poverty (Namibia Multidimensional Poverty Index Report, 2021).
The statistics aim to identify that while the region can bring change in the lives of its residents, regional and local government office bearers are not doing enough to improve the lives of the people who have put them in power. Campaign promises are a heavy burden for those who take them seriously.
The new regional political leadership swayed the citizens to believe that change and prosperity were automatic because they (leadership) would have a different face that would be free from corruption.
Unfortunately, once the desire for political power, privileges and the burning need to be recognised took control, the desire to respond to the needs of the people went out of the window.
It was no longer a desire to serve the people but the desire to be served, with the common slogan in the //Kharas of ‘political head’ and ‘supreme body of authority’ of the region, as they lost track of their promises.
These promises that should have weighed heavily on the shoulders of the political leadership were shrugged off.
Not one meaningful contribution has been made to improve the lives of the 14 685 unemployed citizens of this region (Labour Force Survey, 2018).
Service delivery seems to be at an all-time low in the region, and the practice of witch-hunting administrative heads who dare question the authority and council decisions is the new norm.
Making videos of how leadership can throw senior executives out of public offices or harass employees of the country’s water supply company who were carrying out their duties assigned to them not only showed a lack of leadership ability but also a clear disrespect for the rights of all citizens of the region in general.
The political desire to control administrative processes, especially in the employment of regional council staff members, has reached new heights even so that the Public Service Commission and the ministry could neither stop nor reprimand the “supreme body”.
Unfortunately, law is law, and the chairperson of the management committee is the chairperson of the council, selected to be the judge, the juror and the executor.
Again, I strongly refrain from encouraging regionalism, tribalism and nepotism, as it could lead to cynical and desperate behaviour, such as collecting CVs and promising employment without having the authority to shortlist candidates or appoint them.
The list of these seemingly petty attempts to show the public who is in power could go on for days, but what we should focus on is the cause of this behaviour.
Inability to solve critical issues
As mentioned previously, the pressure of campaign promises has made today’s politicians desperate to find a solution to maintain their supporters and sympathisers.
However, they have gone about it wrongly.
Rather than looking at solving pending critical issues that can create employment and improve food security and social progression, they are focused on minor issues.
Section 18 (a) of the Regional Council Act (Act 22 of 1992 as amended) clearly states the chairperson of the regional council “in consultation with the regional council should investigate and endeavour to solve any issue about the region concerned”.
The regional council should, thus, focus on solving the problems of projects, such as the ‘Fontyntjie’ Aquaculture project in Keetmanshoop that can bring direct jobs to a community that has felt the wrath of the decline of the economy with cases of malnutrition and ravaged unemployment in the Keetmanshoop Urban constituency.
In my opinion, any severe case of malnutrition or death due to malnutrition in a society should be classified as a criminal offence by its leaders.
Farm Vergenoeg is another project that can bring much-needed relief to the communities of Köes and Aroab in the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency as well as the Tantalite Mine in the Warmbad areas.
Failed attempts
A vague attempt by the deputy minister of urban and rural development to urge collaboration among the Politicians and Bureaucrats proved futile.
The egocentric belief that Chapter 12 of the Namibian Constitution is the supreme law of the country will not make it easy for the region to harmonise political differences for the betterment of the //Kharas region.
Respect for the constitution is key, and some might not have read the whole constitution, except for chapter 12, which we still doubt they fully understand – but let us educate each other on things such as the promotion of the welfare of the people, equality and freedom from discrimination, respect for human dignity as well as administrative justice.
Then only we could finally see a change in the great //Kharas region.