Prayer warriors to battle Rundu infighting

Prayer warriors to battle Rundu infighting KENYA KAMBOWE

Churches in Rundu will be holding a prayer session today in the hope of restoring unity among councillors at the town.

The intervention, set to take place at the Rundu town council premises, comes after political infighting among Swapo councillors has rocked the town since November last year.

The town has also been operating without a management committee.

This has resulted in acting Rundu CEO Sikongo Haihambo tendering his resignation. He is set to leave office at the end of next month.

According to one of the organisers of event, Rundu businesswoman Elizabeth Hilger, said their intervention comes after many failed attempts by stakeholders to stabilise the situation.

She made reference to the Swapo politburo chaired by President Hage Geingob also having failed to resolve the matter.

She also mentioned several unsuccessful attempts by the Swapo leader assigned to Kavango East, James Sankwasa, to find an amicable solution.

Earlier this month Namibian Sun reported that Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa does not want to be disturbed by questions about the ongoing fracas at Rundu.

Shaningwa indicated she was advised to distance herself from the Rundu town council issue.

Hilger explained the crisis was not just dividing councillors, but also council employees and residents.

“In this infighting, you can see that there is division amongst the councillors and it goes down to the staff members, who are now also divided. This bad spirit is also spreading down to the residents of Rundu, as they now identify themselves as belonging to this or that group. This is not good,” Hilger explained.

“You can never be successful and be a good leader without the word of God. This is why we organised as churches in order to pray for the councillors, the employees and the residents,” she said.

Hilger said there will be scripture readings, preaching and singing, as well as prayers.

Meanwhile, urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga has given the divided Rundu town council an ultimatum to have its full management committee in place by next Friday or face the consequences.