The ||Kharas Regional Council has again failed to elect members to serve on two management committee positions that have remained vacant for more than two years.

A special meeting called for the nomination and election of the management committee members had to be adjourned after the council failed to reach consensus during caucus discussions. 

The Council’s chairperson, Joseph Isaack, explained that members representing the Landless People’s Movement and Swapo Party could not agree on party directives regarding who should serve on the management committee. 

“Sentiments were raised by both to form a management committee. From the perspective of the Swapo members, their sentiments were expressed. Let’s share the cake, and that is by removing one member of LPM from the National Council in order for us to put a member there, and then we will also put one member in the management committee to constitute a management committee. On the other hand, LPM said,  We already have one member, who is the chairperson of the management committee. And then, we have also, in the first two years and six months, filled two members into the management committee. So, now is the time for Swapo to field.”

The recently ousted Swapo councillors, through a vote of no confidence for alleged dishonesty, were present at the special meeting. 

Isaack said the councillors were reinstated following an intervention by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa. 

Isaack furthermore confirmed that the council and the three Swapo Party councillors are still embroiled in a legal dispute regarding a vote of no confidence that led to their removal. 

A High Court order issued on Thursday declared the vote of no confidence motion against the Swapo Party councillors unlawful and interdicted the respondents, namely, ||Kharas Regional Council, Isaack, Minister of Urban and Rural Development, acting CRO Ralph Sachika, Electoral Commission of Namibia and the mover of the motion, Willem Labuschagne, from implementing it.

It also ordered any party intending to oppose it to pay the legal costs, including the cost of two legal practitioners. 

The respondents have until May 2 to provide justification for not making the order final. 

The said order stems from a legal challenge instituted by Nangolo, Ndjaleka, and Amakali. 

Isaack noted that the council risks not having its budget for the new financial year approved by the minister if it fails to form a management committee.