Erastus Uutoni

2024-05-142026-09-14

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

May 2024
14 MayThe Namibian
Uutoni stated handing over accounts to external debt collectors diminishes role of local authority employees
Source
“According to Uutoni, the practice of handing over accounts to external debt collectors diminishes the role of local authority employees tasked with debt collection, reducing them to mere "salary collectors".”
Red Force pushes town councils to see red

Politics

Merger of Oshakati and Ongwediva described as inevitable

The News

Former Oshana governor Elia Irimari has said merging Oshakati and Ongwediva into one municipality is necessary as the two towns have grown into one continuous urban area. Activist Tangy Tshilongo is formally submitting a proposal for the merger to both town councils and Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge, arguing that a unified municipality would improve service delivery, strengthen economic development, and better coordinate infrastructure.

3 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 3 August

Merger of Oshakati and Ongwediva described as inevitable
Former Oshana governor Elia Irimari has said merging Oshakati and Ongwediva into one municipality is necessary as the two towns have grown into one continuous urban area. Activist Tangy Tshilongo is formally submitting a proposal for the merger to both town councils and Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge, arguing that a unified municipality would improve service delivery, strengthen economic development, and better coordinate infrastructure.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 30 July

Activist proposes merging Ongwediva and Oshakati town councils
An activist has proposed dissolving Ongwediva Town Council and incorporating it into Oshakati Town Council to improve service delivery and reduce administrative duplication in northern Namibia. The proposal argues that Oshakati has become the Oshana region's main commercial, administrative and economic hub, making separate local authorities unnecessary.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 26 June

Kunene Regional Council salaries unpaid due to minister suspension
Kunene Regional Council employees did not receive salaries as government funds remain withheld by the urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa, who suspended disbursement in May citing concerns over the presence of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb. The suspension has also halted several development projects in the region.
26 June 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 9 June

Deregistered Tsoaxudaman chief sues minister over removal
Joshua Seibeb, deregistered Chief of the Tsoaxudaman clan, has challenged his removal by Minister James Sankwasa in court, arguing it was unlawful. Seibeb was removed in September 2025 after failing to implement a 2022 agreement on the appointment of senior and traditional councillors, stemming from a long-standing leadership dispute within the clan.
9 June 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 29 April

Vaalgras community frustrated over eight-year chief appointment delay
Community members in Vaalgras, ||Kharas region, express frustration over an eight-year delay in appointing a new Traditional Authority chief following Joel Stephanus's death. Community member Fritz Stephanus alleges that traditional authority councillors are deliberately causing delays and artificial disputes, potentially motivated by their own ambitions to become chief.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 April

Minister blocks funds to Kunene Regional Council over chief officer dispute
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.
20 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 3 February

High Court sets aside Gciriku traditional leader appointment
A High Court judge has set aside the former minister of urban and rural development's appointment of Felix Mashika as chief of the Gciriku Traditional Authority in Kavango East, ruling that the minister failed to properly determine the community's customary law of succession. The court ordered the current minister to reconsider the designation within 90 days, ensuring a proper determination of the applicable customary law is made.
3 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 2 February

Judge orders minister to reconsider Gciriku chieftaincy decision
The Windhoek High Court has set aside the 2023 ministerial decision to designate Maraghuli Felix Mashika as Hompa of the Gciriku Traditional Authority, ordering the minister to reconsider the matter within 90 days based on a proper determination of Gciriku customary law. The court found that the original decision lacked proper reference to customary law and was made on assumptions.
2 February 2026 · New Era →