04 dec namib times e-edition.

Page 1

N$4

namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6892 FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER 2020 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

inside

“Ruling coalitions” take charge of coastal towns

The giant departs

All three the central west coast towns of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Henties Bay are now governed by ruling coalitions in their respective town councils. This unprecedented political development comes with compliments of opposition voters who turned out in numbers at the polls during the Regional Council and Local Authority Elections on 25 November this year. Since 1992, when Namibia’s first regional- and local authority elections were held, the Swapo Party of Namibia held the reigns. In Walvis Bay that became the political norm in 1994, with the re-integration of the Enclave of Walvis Bay as Namibian territory from the then National Partyruled Republic of South Africa. Apart from taking a major beating at the polls for local authorities (town councils), Swapo also took a beating at regional council level where it managed to hold onto three seats (from five seats),

with the Independent Patriots for Change with three seats and the United Democratic Front (UDF) which is in kingmaker position with one seat. “Swapo has lost its title as ruling party. In most town councils and at regional level it now takes the seat as opposition”, explains a local authority political analyst. Adding it is appropriate to now refer to ruling coalitions, as all the non-Swapo parties and organisations have no other choice than to form coalitions with one another, in order to keep Swapo tied down firmly.

Erongo Regional Council sworn in - historic moment The Erongo Regional Council was inaugurated at its headquarters in Swakopmund on Wednesday, ushering in a new political dispensation. Swapo Party of Namibia, which dominated the regional council since 1992 has lost two seats, leaving the party in the minority with the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) with three seats and the United Democratic Front (UDF) with one seat. Indications are the UDF will form an alliance with the IPC to maintain a majority. The Erongo Regional Council members are: Cllr. Ciske Howard-Smith (IPC); Florian Donatus (IPC); Deriou Benson (IPC); Melania Ndjago

(Swapo); Ernest Wetha (Swapo); Benitha Imbamba (Swapo) and Kennedy !Haoseb (UDF). The seven constituencies of the Erongo Regional Council are represented by these Councillors as follow: Walvis Bay Urban - Deriou Benson; Walvis Bay Rural - Florian Donatus; Swakopmund - Ciske Howard-Smith (also Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council); Arandis - Benitha Imbamba; Karibib - Melania Ndjago; Omaruru - Ernest Wetha and Daures - Kennedy !Haoseb.

“The people have spoken” The Governor of Erongo, Cllr Neville Andre, in his keynote address at the swearing in of the Erongo Regional Council on Wednesday praised voters for peaceful and orderly conduct at the polls on 25 November. The Governor also called for cooperation beyond party political pickets. “Namibians have spoken”, added Governor Andre. Referring to the election results which not only dramatically changed the political landscape in Erongo Region, but also several other of the country’s fourteen regions. Following the amendment of the Regional Governer Amendment Act in 2010, the Governor of each region is not selected by the regional

councils any more, but are direct appointments of the Namibian President. It is expected Andre’s future reign as Governor of Erongo will require the biblical wisdom of King Solomon. The Governor now has to deal with a regional council ruled by a ruling coalition (IPC and UDF) and no more a Swapo “rubber stamp” regional council.

Page 3

Gendev Fishing announces 30 % salary cut One of Walvis Bay's main investors and job creators in the fishing industry, Gendev Fishing Group, announced this week that a salary cut of 30 % is to become effective across the business at the end of December. The Company informed workers accordingly in the presence of representatives of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau). Gendev operates a land-based horse mackerel processing plant in Walvis Bay, employing some 600 people. Gendev has not seen an economically viable horse mackerel quota allocation since 2015. The Company needs an annual quota of 35 000 metric tons to operate financially viable. This year's quota is for instance 12 000 metric tons only. The General Manager of Gendev, Mr Pieter Strydom on Monday informed workers of the salary cut. He described it as unavoidable. Strydom urged the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources to take a critical look at its quota allocations, as it is ruining the fishing industry. Fishing companies are pressured by Government to invest in land-based processing facilities and fishing vessels, but quota allocations are poor. It leads to investor discouragement, as companies are not getting a return on investment. It is not known for how long the salary cut would be effective. Gendev's processing plant is already closed since July this year.

Walvis Bay Lions Club turned 60

Page 6

XCCS conducts emergency exercise

Page 8

Sports News Pages 17 to 20


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.