Oshakati: President of the Namibia Association of Local Authority Officials, Moses Matyayi, has raised alarm over increasing political interference in local authorities, warning that it is destabilising municipal governance and weakening service delivery.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Matyayi spoke at the 22nd Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Namibian Association of Local Authority Officials (NALAO) in Oshakati on Wednesday. He highlighted that officials are facing mounting pressure through arbitrary suspensions, dismissals, and undue external influence across several local authorities.

Matyayi expressed concern over what he described as troubling patterns affecting the sector, including the castigation of chief executive officers and officials through various means. He noted that such actions, whether due to political influence or undue interference, pose a threat to several issues, including the non-renewal of contracts.

He further stated that officials face an unjust and demeaning threat with lasting career consequences. 'As CEOs and administrators, we are threatened. This threat is not only unjust but also demeaning, with potential long-term career-limiting implications,' Matyayi added.

Matyayi cautioned that these practices are unfair to administrators and have broader consequences for towns and cities, such as disrupted continuity in service delivery and declining investor confidence. He underscored that such interference undermines institutional stability, professional administration, and investor confidence, ultimately affecting job creation for residents.

He stressed the importance of allowing professional administrators to carry out their duties independently, without intimidation or political pressure, while ensuring accountability through proper and transparent processes.

The conference is taking place from Wednesday to Friday under the theme 'Inspiring people-centred smart cities for inclusive and sustainable urbanisation'.