By: Justicia Shipena
Suspended Omuthiya Independence Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor Petrina Shiindi suspects that her suspension results from her tabling a motion of no confidence in the mayor and questioning the procurement process used to purchase equipment from Barloworld for the council.
Shiindi claims that Omuthiya mayor Johannes Ndeutepo is trying to intimidate and silence her.
This comes as, on Friday, the Omuthiya Town Council suspended IPC councillor Shiindi for one month without benefits for disregarding Code 2 of the Code of Conduct for Members of Local Authority Councils: Local Authorities Act, 1992.
Shiindi was, until the suspension serving as the Omuthiya council deputy mayor. Omuthiya mayor Ndeutepo filed a report of misconduct against Shiindi.
“It is a way of silencing me because I am questioning things he is doing that are not in accordance with the law. He is trying to zip my mouth or intimidate me with this misconduct,” said Shiindi.
Last month, she had moved a vote of no confidence in the council’s chairperson Ndeutepo.
In the motion, Shiindi expressed her lack of confidence in Ndeutepo and that the motion is based on procuring an unbudgeted 4,914K backhoe loader and caterpillar equipment purchased by the council at N$4 million.
At that time argued that Ndeutepo makes decisions concerning the finances of the council without even consulting the management committee.
“Perhaps having me out of the office for a month will help him speed up the payment process,” she stamped.
Shiindi assumes that the mayor thinks that she is the reason why officials are delaying paying Barloworld.
“I strongly believe that my suspension results from me tabling motions of no confidence in the mayor and questioning the procurement process used to purchase equipment from Barloworld. I started asking this whole thing on Friday, 15 July 2022.”
Shiindi had said the procurement process used looks dubious, adding that the procurement committee failed to answer why a direct procurement method was preferred.
She also claimed that service delivery to the mayor is not a priority, stating that the the leadership style of Ndeutepo is not inclusive and that his (Ndeutepo) ‘s discriminatory leadership is causing division among staff members.
Furthermore, Shiindi had said Ndeutepo disregards the code, and some staff members are now his drinking mates, which according to her, resulted in some council decisions being made and discussed in bars.
Speaking to The Villager on Monday, Shiindi aired that it is not the first her suspension is coming up and that the council attempted to suspend her after tabling a motion of no confidence.
In March, Shiindi moved a vote of no confidence in the council’s management committee, stating that it is not complying with the local authority act. This motion was then dismissed, and Shiindi claimed Ndeutepo unprocedural dismissed it.
She said she has questions about her suspension, which she says is unclear.
“He is not saying exactly what I did and which code I violated by doing what and when? The letter itself also needs to be explained to me, and the letter is saying I was found guilty. I was found guilty on what exactly?” she questioned.
In addition, she finds both the report of misconduct and the suspension letter ambiguous and said the mayor failed to substantiate her alleged misconduct.
In the suspension letter, Ndeutepo accused Shiindi of continuing to act in cahoots with the public to discredit and defame the council, disrupting the order of the meetings and disrespecting other councillors.
He also accused Shiindi of sharing confidential council matters with the public and publishing lies/ false statements to the public and the media, insinuating corruption and malpractices.
According to Ndeutepo, Shiindi also dictates to other councillors from her political party to carry out their duties as she wishes and often orders them to vacate or boycott council meetings.
The letter also said Shiindi violated the general provision as per Code 2 of the Code of Conduct by practising partisan politics, removing members of her party from the Council meetings, obstructing meetings, making confidential information public, and spreading false information to the public to cause havoc in the community, staff and Council members.
The letter said the council would cease all benefits accorded to Shiindi while on suspension, and she must surrender Council properties.
When The Villager reached out to Ndeutepo, it is not about attacking anyone or zipping someone’s mouth.
“We just want all the councillors and leadership to follow the rules. We do not run council in the media. We run it in the chamber. So, that is what we are restoring. She does not even show any remorse, and she is now claiming intimidation,” said Ndeutepo. justicia@thevillager.com.na
