Members of the Katutura Central Community, Evian Armando Pieters and Shonena Nathanael, disrupted the monthly council meeting on Thursday to demand disciplinary action against Zurilea Steenkamp, the senior executive of the economic and community development division, and CEO Moses Matyayi. The two young men, who burst into the meeting shouting “get out” while councillors were deliberating on council

issues, accused Steenkamp and Matyayi
of incompetence and employing incompetent individuals, urging the council to address their concerns immediately. 

The protesters were thrown out of the council chambers, and the meeting proceeded as scheduled thereafter. 

Issues

Their grievances concern the community reading room at the Katutura Community Hall. 

They said since the reading room – which was typically a library – was revamped and turned into a facility which also caters for community
training, the community has allegedly been experiencing challenges due to
James Kalundu from the City of
Windhoek’s social and youth development division.

“He is the biggest troublemaker. Since the city decided they will start training in trades such as horticulture, driver’s licence training, and so many beautiful things, Kalundu has been deliberately sabotaging everything happening there. He has not been releasing any funds, he is signing off proposals very late, or simply disregarding them. For three years, the city has not been involved at all,” charged Pieters.

He said they have been sending letters to Steenkamp for the city to investigate the matter, but their grievances have fallen on deaf ears. 

The matter was addressed during a meeting held with the community working committee on the reading room, at which Steenkamp was present.

Some of the issues raised include the directive to close the reading room and all its operations. Steenkamp has denied knowledge of the directive, saying neither she nor the CEO directed the closure of the facility. 

At the centre of the matter are claims of inefficiencies in various programmes run at the reading room, and a lack of good governance of the municipal facility.

In a letter sent to Pieters earlier this month on the issue, Matyayi said investigations into the allegations levelled against Kalundu will be addressed by his office. 

However, the young men feel the city is dragging its feet on the matter, which will prompt them to show up at the City of Windhoek offices every day.

City duties

The council meeting addressed an avalanche of issues including water scarcity, and the upgrade of parks around the city.

A topical item on the agenda was a proposal by a company, Sport Turf Solution CC, to upgrade and modernise the Joseph Wooping playground in Klein Windhoek. 

The pilot project is fully-funded by the company, and once fully-implemented, it is intended to be rolled out to other areas in the city.

The councillors were divided on the project.

Councillor Ivan Skrywer said at the moment, the park in question is dilapidated, but raised issues about outsourcing the project, making it a private initiative. 

Councillor Job Amupanda also expressed scepticism, complaining about turning the city’s assets into private entities.

Steenkamp said the park currently is a play park, and as part of the master plan, the goal is to improve the multifunctional use of the facilities. 

“The proposal aims to upgrade the play park, and make provision for the artificial turf to be managed on a commercial basis. Residents will still have access to the park without being limited or charged. They are bringing in a restaurant and coffee shop to enhance the viability of the project. If the council were to do it themselves, it would require additional resources and a dedicated fund to maintain the turf,” Steenkamp noted.

Councillor Sade Gawanas proposed that each councillor adopt a park, and raise funds for its development.

“This should be like a farewell initiative as some of us are not sure if we will return, and it would become part of our legacy,” she said.

ashikololo@nepc.com.na