By: Staff Writer
A group calling itself Concerned Swapo Members says that the suspension and recall of the Grootfontein mayor Talitha Garises was betrayal by her comrades.
Grootfotein District executive committee members Tuhafeni Simon, Fastudu Malwa, Anna Ochurus, Innocent Madonsa and Susan Swartz, were also recalled and suspended.
The suspended Otjozondjupa regional coordinator, Susan Hikopua, has also expressed concern with the suspension of the Grootfontein councillors.
Hikopua wrote to the Grootfontein district coordinator, John Haimbodi, telling him that the suspensions were unprocedural.
The Swapo party recalled and suspended Garises, effective 21 February.
The decision came a mere few days after Garises was sworn in as mayor of the town when the former mayor and Swapo councillor, Lovisa Iyambo, relinquished the mayoral chain due to infighting.
According to the ruling party’s Grootfontein district coordinator, John Haimbodi, the suspended party members have sown division among the region’s party members.
Haimbodi also said the councillors had allowed the town’s council to fall into the hands of opposition parties.
Antage Ruben Tsuseb, who claims to be the group’s spokesperson, said Swapo is in betrayal of their trust to deliver service to the community.
“Grootfontein is going down in a drain financially as well developmentally. The appointed Chief Administrator had become a politician advising the Swapo District Executive Committee in secret meetings where the rest of the District Executive members were excluded,” Tsuseb said.
According to Tsuseb, the company contracted for N$2,5m for managing refuse removal is not benefitting the Grootfontein community and remains a matter of investigation by ACC.
He further said about 150 skilled and unskilled staff members, excluding the office personnel, are currently on forced paid leave because there is hardly anything that they can do.
“In addition, all municipality trucks are parked in the workshop. Logically, there is no saving in contracting a company with its equipment and labour force, while 150 workers still receive their wages without performing work,” he said.
Tsuseb said the Swapo secretary-general must intervene and recall all Swapo councillors, including the District Executive, the coordinator, and appoint a knowledgeable person on the Swapo Constitution.
“The community is suffering for this scramble for positions, and we have enough. In addition, Swapo Party has become so much more divided and than ever,” he added.
Hikopua said that the suspension and recall process is null and void and that Haimbodi should retract his letters and reinstate the councillor and Swapo members.
“As we are aware of the current happenings in Grootfontein District, the regional have learned with great concern and not condone [sic]” with strongest terms the suspension, recalling the comrades that were done prematurely and un-procedurally. Therefore, I urge you, comrade, to refrain from such practices as it is detrimental to the progress of the party operations in Grootfontein.”
