New Okahandja councillors pledge to reclaim ‘Garden Town’ status

Despite their different political affiliations, the newly-elected Okahandja councillors promised to work together to restore the town's identity as the ‘Garden Town' once again.

On Friday, the town voted for new leadership for the next 12 months, which saw Swapo councillor Kaunapawa Hangula elected as mayor, replacing Isaskar Katuuo.

Hangula is deputised by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member Akser Aupindi, who becomes the first IPC member to be elected deputy mayor of the town.

The mayor and deputy mayor were elected unopposed. The management committee members' election, however, saw five people nominated and seconded, which forced them to vote via secret ballot.

In the end, the management committee positions were taken up by two Swapo councillors – Katuuo and Beatrice Kotungondo – as well as UDF councillor Vincent Khariseb as committee chairperson. Natasha Brinkman of the Landless People's Movement and Charl Coetzee from the Okahandja Rate Payers' Association are both ordinary members of the council.

The election was described as fair and transparent.

In her acceptance speech, Hangula and her fellow council members promised to keep track of their progress and challenges related to housing provision, the dilapidated roads, the provision of serviced land, and the cleanliness of the town to take Okahandja back to its former glory.

“I am humbled by the vote of confidence to lead the town's developmental agenda, and I pledge to carry out my new responsibilities to the best of my abilities. Let us work as a team to reclaim our title of being Namibia's ‘Garden Town'. It is not a secret that our town requires a lot of improvements,” she said.

For years, Okahandja had enjoyed the status of being one of the cleanest towns in Namibia.

However, as time went by, Okahandja municipal council administrators have been struggling to get the town to where it used to be – a clean and attractive town once revered as the ‘Garden Town' of Namibia, as piles of waste have become an eyesore around most of the town.

On top of that, the majority of residents live in deplorable conditions.

Hangula further said that as a council, they have made progress in their efforts to improve the living conditions of the people.

However, she admitted that a lot still needs to be done. Thus, she will direct the attention of the council to the issues of dilapidated roads and water pipes as well as other critical matters.

“In my work as mayor, I pledge to offer support to the residents of Okahandja, irrespective of their economic, political or social status. I believe that as a team, we will achieve more. Thus, I call on the council, management and staff of the Okahandja town council and residents to join hands and fight the social evils that are happening in our town,” she continued.

The deputy mayor reminded fellow council members of the huge tasks they are facing, and the expectations of residents in terms of service delivery.

“I have no doubt that we will work together, hand in hand, to tackle bread and butter issues. To the Okahandja community, freedom is coming; hard work will start right away. We will implement open-door policies. You will no longer have to make appointments to see us. Once you find me in the office, I will attend to you straightforward,” Aupindi remarked.

He promised that the burning issue of residents boycotting the Redforce debt collector will be addressed accordingly and amicably.

“Please, rest assured, with this leadership we are all about to work hard and deliver to the best of our abilities,” he promised.