IPC bemoans ‘trial by ambush’ at City

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillors serving on the City of Windhoek’s management committee have threatened to approach the courts if the municipality fails to seek a legal opinion on a vote of no confidence submitted by Affirmative Repositioning (AR) councillor Ilse Keister last week.

These were the sentiments of chairperson Ndeshihafela Larandja during last week’s special council meeting that served as a platform for management committee members to respond to allegations contained in the vote of no confidence.

Larandja said the vote moved against the committee is nothing but a ‘trial by ambush’ and that it is not properly constituted.

“The complex legality and the public interest in the motion of Keister requires this council to refer this matter to the management committee for its deliberation, and, as necessary, to seek a legal opinion from an appropriate forum.”

Friday’s meeting was left in limbo after lawyers representing the four IPC councillors wrote to mayor Sade //Gawanas, cautioning her to call off the meeting or face legal action.

The meeting went ahead despite the threats, and without any subsequent legal action taking place.

During Friday’s close-door session, four members of the management committee - including Larandja - presented their case while one member has yet to speak.

In her motion, Keister said the committee cannot be trusted and that it is 99% constituted of IPC.

In her defence, Larandja said the Local Authorities Act provides that management committee members be elected - notwithstanding political party affiliation - by a properly constituted council from amongst its legitimate members, which included Keister.

In bad faith

“It is also clear from the wording of the motion that this motion appears to be politically motivated and has been filed in bad faith. The implication of the motion by Keister, who had been a member of that council at the time of electing members of the management committee, suggests that a partisan election took place for the management committee.

“Keister has unfortunately not provided objective factual evidence of how this [committee] is not consisting of members of council, [and] rather a political party, thus the motion is against members of a political party and not members of the council,” Larandja moved.

She also stressed that Keister failed to demonstrate a lack of coherence in the conduct of the management committee, adding that her allegations are purely subjective ‘hearsay’.

No disrespect

In her motion, Keister stated that the management committee has performed poorly and has failed dismally to implement council resolutions.

Larandja responded that it is not clear from Keister’s motion what is referred to as “poor performance” or which specific management committee conduct has not inspired confidence in the public and City staff.

“Furthermore, needless to state, in terms of Article 102 of the Namibian Constitution, the management committee is neither the implementer nor the executor of resolutions of the council, but rather the executive and administration.”

She also queried Keister’s position that the committee has no respect for the council, as well as her lack of explanation on the nature of the duties the committee supposedly grossly failed to implement.

“It is not substantiated that residents remained despondent as alleged, so as to form an impression that council is unable to execute its duties. A reference to council here seems to indicate that the entire council is at fault,” she said.

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