Absence of City coalition pact worries Semba
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Windhoek city councillor Ignatius Semba says it is concerning that the current council has not signed a coalition agreement yet.
He said the signing of the agreement would provide policy certainty, even if there is a rotation of a mayor in future.
The current council has already voted for members to constitute its management committee, choosing the Independent Patriots for Change’s (IPC) Fillemon Hambuda as chairperson.
In December, Affirmative Repositioning (AR) chief activist Job Amupanda was elected as mayor, replacing current Swapo councillor and former mayor Fransina Kahungu.
Politicians from the IPC, AR, National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) and PDM were elected to serve on the management committee, excluding councillors from Swapo and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).
This marks a departure from Swapo’s grip on the largely ceremonial mayoral position.
Get it in writing
“It is very difficult if you don’t have a written agreement, and this written agreement has to ensure [to] the residents that even if the mayor is replaced, what they voted for will still remain there,” Semba said on Namibian Sun’s Evening Review show on Monday.
A coalition agreement is also necessary to quell any fears Windhoek residents may have, he said.
“The policy needs to be there, there must be a memorandum of understanding, a workable document that is in place that will help and also assure the residents because this is the first time in the history that the City is run by a coalition.”
Semba felt the lack of an agreement could lead to a situation where a change of leadership may signal a change in the quality of service delivery.
“Now if the coalition is not written, it’s not binding. If the current mayor is no longer the mayor, can we expect the same services to continue?
“Can we still hope that the council will work together as a unit to be able to deliver?” Semba asked.
WINDHOEK
Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Windhoek city councillor Ignatius Semba says it is concerning that the current council has not signed a coalition agreement yet.
He said the signing of the agreement would provide policy certainty, even if there is a rotation of a mayor in future.
The current council has already voted for members to constitute its management committee, choosing the Independent Patriots for Change’s (IPC) Fillemon Hambuda as chairperson.
In December, Affirmative Repositioning (AR) chief activist Job Amupanda was elected as mayor, replacing current Swapo councillor and former mayor Fransina Kahungu.
Politicians from the IPC, AR, National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) and PDM were elected to serve on the management committee, excluding councillors from Swapo and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).
This marks a departure from Swapo’s grip on the largely ceremonial mayoral position.
Get it in writing
“It is very difficult if you don’t have a written agreement, and this written agreement has to ensure [to] the residents that even if the mayor is replaced, what they voted for will still remain there,” Semba said on Namibian Sun’s Evening Review show on Monday.
A coalition agreement is also necessary to quell any fears Windhoek residents may have, he said.
“The policy needs to be there, there must be a memorandum of understanding, a workable document that is in place that will help and also assure the residents because this is the first time in the history that the City is run by a coalition.”
Semba felt the lack of an agreement could lead to a situation where a change of leadership may signal a change in the quality of service delivery.
“Now if the coalition is not written, it’s not binding. If the current mayor is no longer the mayor, can we expect the same services to continue?
“Can we still hope that the council will work together as a unit to be able to deliver?” Semba asked.
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