RUNDU: SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) Central Committee member, Wensel Mavara has praised the Rundu Town Council’s decision not to renew Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Romanus Haironga’s employment contract.

The Rundu Town Council’s management committee resolved at its council meeting late last month not to renew Haironga’s employment contract, which comes to an end on 30 October this year.

Speaking during an interview with Nampa on Friday, Mavara indicated that he welcomed the Town Councillors’ decision, saying development at Rundu “cannot be held hostage by a single individual.”

Mavara, who is the chairperson of SPYL leaders assigned to the Kavango Region, said the Rundu CEO “sold out the town” by auctioning-off urban land which was only acquired by wealthy individuals, mostly foreigners.

He also blamed Haironga for the abrupt disconnection of water supply to poor people, allegedly without proper prior notifications.

“The councillors took a decision that is in the interest of the public, and we support that,” he stated.

Mavara warned that the person who takes over the Rundu Town Council’s top post will have to take the position seriously, and must listen to the electorate.

Reacting to Mavara’s claims, the outgoing Rundu CEO in very few words labelled Mavara as a confused individual who does not know what he is talking about.

‘Let him bark like a dog, he doesn’t know what he is talking about,’ Haironga said.

In an earlier interview with Nampa, Haironga had said he was not aware of the reasons for the non-renewal of his employment contract. He had also denied claims that the reason for the non-renewal is the bad blood that exists between him and the town’s political office-bearers.

However, he did confirm that he was issued with a letter at the beginning of this month, informing him that his employment contract would not be renewed.

Haironga said he has had a good working relationship with the town councillors ever since he took on the job on 01 November 2007.

“The only disagreements I had with the councillors were confined to policy issues. That does not necessarily mean that we had conflicts,” he stated.

Speaking about his term in office, the Rundu Town Council CEO pointed out that many tangible developments have taken place under his leadership, including the gazetting of several by-laws and regulations that are currently being implemented.

He said the council used to receive a lot of complaints from community members about poor service delivery, something which he says has now been reduced following prompt response from the council’s office-bearers.

He went on to state that more areas within the town’s boundaries have also been allocated for development and are being cleared for housing, business and industrial purposes.

“The town now has a solid financial standing, and is able to meet its obligations in terms of paying creditors,” he added.

Speaking of his future plans, the youthful Haironga said he intends to explore other employment opportunities, or he would just venture into farming activities.

The position of the Rundu CEO will be advertised shortly before the current CEO’s contract ends on 30 October.

Before Haironga’s appointment in November 2007, the Rundu Town Council operated without a permanent CEO for about four years following the suspension of former CEO Lukas Muhepa.

Muhepa was eventually awarded an amount of about N.dollars 2 million after a long court battle, in which he accused the council of unfair dismissal.