Other deficiencies include lack of strong and capable leadership at council and administrative level, overburdened mayors, under-qualified staff members, lack of skilled human resources, underdeveloped corporate governance, no clear vision and strategy, lack of understanding of laws governing local authorities, tension between the council and the administrative staff and interference in each others’ domains.
Fait accompli is the constant flow of people from rural to urban areas, resulting in informal settlement areas (squatting) causing a constant demand for services.
Lack of funds for capital projects, an underdeveloped local economy, not sufficient capital to develop land for residential and industrial purposes, limited access to rates and taxes, and shortage of professional expertise such as able and well qualified technicians, engineers, planners, surveyors, accountants and managers, are many of the deficiencies characterising local governance in Namibia.
In addition, there is also a lack of communication and proper consultation between local authorities and the communities which they are obliged to serve.
Maybe more adherence should be paid to what Thomas Jefferson once said about democratic governance in America: “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”
This is equally applicable to democratic and participatory local governance. More professionalism is wanted among councillors. Therefore one should seriously consider the qualitative preconditions for becoming a councillor.
Political parties, organisations and associations which nominate candidates for local authority elections would be well advised to be more selective in their choice and should apply certain qualification criteria.
Local governance demands knowledgeable people who can cope with the demands of the advanced technological age. Councillors should be development- and service-oriented and not seek nomination only for the sake of earning some money.
Local authority councillors should be literate to be able to read and understand the minutes of local authority meetings and other documents. I am concerned about the quality of many of our local authority councillors.
I accept that the role of a councillor is a complex one. He/she is expected to be an independent thinker and actor, a community or constituency representative and spokesperson, a leader, a problem solver, a policy maker, a decision maker, an enabler, a power-broker, an institution-builder, a negotiator, a mediator, a financier, a facilitator, a communicator and an overseer, to mention a few of the responsibilities and expectations.
Much concern has been expressed about the desperate financial situation of many local authorities and that additional funding in terms of additional taxes as well as subsidies and grants, development funding, and other sources of income should be considered.
The general tenor is that if local authorities are obliged to comply with Vision 2030, then local governments must be nurtured financially by central government in order to become sustainable and more independent, thus autonomous, and viable. Local authorities are conscious that they are expected, actually compelled, to make significant contributions to development.
Development planning should be made mandatory in the Local Authority Act as one of the primary responsibilities of a local authority. Integrated development plans must be construed to ensure co-operation and co-ordination of all stakeholders in the areas of jurisdiction.
This should be done in close co-operation with regional councils, the Central Government and the community at large. Corporate governance is a must. Local government and regional councils’ development plans must be compatible with national development plans. Development funds to be allocated by central government to local authorities should become obligatory.
Local authorities deal with many national issues at local level such as poverty reduction, the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, integrated urban development planning, constant influx of rural dwellers to urban areas, and tasks assigned when implementing the decentralisation policy. It should oblige the central government to provide local authorities with adequate financial resources like subsidies and/or grants and allow additional forms of taxes.
Present sources of income at local authority level are totally inadequate to cope with all the obligations. Namibia has since independence passed the transitional phase in its overall development process. NDP III and Vision 2030 have set new goals. Presently policy makers are lagging behind in the achievement of these goals.
We have to be critical to ourselves and seriously consider whether present structures, systems and processes comply with the demands that we are faced with. If needed, we have to review, adapt and modernise. Such approach obliges us to be pro-active, inventive, functional, transparent, honest, consequential, dynamic and trustworthy.
We cannot afford political distrust as it affects harmony and the well-being of our society. This year is election time and we should not be surprised if the electorate takes the policy- and decisionmakers at local level to task on their achievements.
How will local politicians relate to the promises they have made and could not comply with?
Revolutionary rhetoric as an escape route will not work. The most dominant issue all policy makers from national to local level are faced with is the alleviation of poverty.
In addressing this and other important issues we may have to adapt our thoughts and strategies, and when required, to reform and conform with the goals set by NDP III and Vision 2030.
