NALAO blasts trigger-happy councillors

WETUMWENE SHIKAGE WINDHOEKThe Namibian Association of Local Authority Officials (NALAO) has expressed concern over the rate at which CEOs and senior professionals in the local authority sector are being suspended.This, NALAO said, has the potential to delay service delivery and good corporate governance in the local government sector.The organisation has also noted the growing trend of disunity among council members in some local authorities in the country.NALAO cited, as examples, the latest suspension of the CEOs of Oranjemund, Keetmanshoop, Stampriet and Tsumeb.Elected officials and municipal professionals are on the same team to provide responsive services to the masses and, therefore, need to practice good governance principles to manage political administrative interfaces, NALAO said in a press statement.The association’s president Moses Matyayi said local authority leaders recently attended a week-long extensive induction training workshop, where government - through NALAO’s line ministry - invested a great deal of time and funds to prepare them for their roles.“Some leadership at these institutions continue to orchestrate non-procedural actions contradicting the upholding of the oath of office as individual council members by the overriding of laid down procedures,” he said.“As professionals, we are cognisant that conflict is inevitable where there is a group of people working together, and yes, there may be reasons for such suspensions, however, a due process that reflects good corporate governance must be complied with by the very people who should uphold the same positions,” Matyayi said.Volatile and precarious“I am inclined to state that we still are in a volatile and precarious space to continue exacerbating the situation with illegal suspension, which I believe is not the best nor the ultimate means to any solution, considering all available avenues that may be explored,” he added.NALAO stated that they have made repeated calls to the ministry of urban and rural development to make decisions and act promptly against rogue councils who act with impunity and, in the process, undermine service delivery to residents and stakeholders.The organisation therefore called on the minister of urban and rural development, Erastus Uutoni, to take decisive action and bring an end to impunity in the local government sector.NALAO added that the only lasting solution for the pervasive challenges in the local government sector is the speedy implementation of the Local Government Reform Policy.“We especially call for the immediate implementation of the Local Government Service Commission as an independent body to govern all aspects of CEO recruitment, conditions of service and discipline. We call upon the Cabinet Committee on Policy and Priorities to submit the Local Government Reform Policy to Parliament for ratification and amendments to relevant legislation… to commence without any further delay,” Matyayi said.

NALAO blasts trigger-happy councillors

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-10

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NALAO blasts trigger-happy councillors

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-10

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