Erongo Council defies court on Imbamba’s return Allexer Namundjembo  The Erongo Regional Council (ERC) has resolved to defy a Windhoek High Court order reinstate Benitha Imbamba as chairperson.  Councillors instead decided to retain current chairperson Florian Donatus. At a special council meeting on Tuesday, councillors voted 4–2 to retain Donatus and to appeal the 1 August judgement.  The court ruled  that Imbamba’s March removal through a vote of no confidence was  unlawful and ordered her immediate return to office. Donatus confirmed the council had passed two resolutions, to maintain the current leadership and to challenge the ruling.  He distanced his political party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), from the dispute.  “Erongo Regional Council affairs are not IPC affairs; hence there is no such advancement from the IPC party,” he said. He criticised the office of the attorney general, accusing it of political bias and warning the ERC would appoint private lawyers if state representation was withheld.  “We will not allow the Attorney General’s office, which is SWAPO, to choose when to represent us and when not to represent us. It’s their mandate to represent us, but if they don’t want to, we can source legal representation ourselves as ERC,” he said. Imbamba, a Swapo councillor for the Arandis Constituency, was removed as chairperson on 24 March after a motion of no confidence tabled by IPC’s Deriou Benson.  The motion cited leadership failures, lack of consultation, and divisive conduct. Under the Regional Councils Act, such a motion also dissolves the management committee. Following her removal, Donatus, the Walvis Bay Rural councillor, was elected chairperson in April.  His appointment came during tensions between Swapo and IPC councillors over the council’s leadership and decision-making. The High Court’s ruling in Imbamba’s favour has set the stage for a legal and political standoff.  While the court ordered her immediate reinstatement, the ERC says it will resist the move until the appeal process is concluded. Erongo governor Natalia ǀGoagoses said she has no legal basis to comment on the matter.  However, she did confirm to the Windhoek Observer that she was present at the meeting. 

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Erongo Council defies court, blocks Arandis Chairperson return Erongo Council defies court, blocks Arandis Chairperson return NBC Online Tue, 08/12/2025 - 19:22

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Florian Donatus urges industry support for communities Florian Donatus urges industry support for communities NBC Online Wed, 07/02/2025 - 13:57

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PSC pays courtesy call on Erongo regional council PSC pays courtesy call on Erongo regional council NBC Online Thu, 05/15/2025 - 14:41

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IPC assumes Erongo Regional Council chair Niël Terblanché Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor for Walvis Bay Rural Constituency, has been elected as the new chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council. Chief Regional Officer Mpenzeni Ntelamo confirmed the appointment on Tuesday and said in a statement that Florian Donatus’ election follows the ousting of former chairperson Benitha Imbamba through a motion of no confidence. The motion that was tabled on 6 March by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor Deriou Benson cited leadership failures and a lack of unity under Imbamba’s leadership. Benson alleged that Imbamba operated unilaterally and failed to foster collaboration among councillors. At the time, Imbamba, who represented the Swapo Party, dismissed the motion as baseless and politically motivated. She argued that the allegations lacked specific evidence and were driven by upcoming regional elections. The Erongo Regional Council subsequently convened a special meeting on 24 March 2025 to address the motion. Donatus was elected chairperson during Tuesday’s ordinary meeting. Ntelamo also confirmed that simultaneously, Louisa Kativa, councillor for Swakopmund Constituency, was elected as a member of the Management Committee. He said the appointments were conducted in accordance with the Regional Councils Act. This Donatus is the third chairperson for the regional council. The first chairperson was Ciske Howard, who resigned from the position following a vote of no confidence by fellow councillors.  She was later recalled from the council following a spat between her and her former party leader, Panduleni Itula. The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations appointed Regional Magistrate Conchita Olivier, of Swakopmund, to preside over the swearing-in ceremony.

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Erongo council divided over no confidence motion against chairperson A motion of no confidence against Erongo Regional Council management committee chairperson and Arandis constituency councillor Benitha Imbamba has divided the seven councillors. The motion, which also seeks to remove her as chairperson, was tabled by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor Deriou Benson from Walvis Bay Rural, citing leadership failures and a lack of unity under Imbamba’s tenure. Imbamba, a Swapo councillor, was elected chairperson in 2022, replacing IPC’s Ciske Howard Smith, who was recalled by her party. Benson’s motion, submitted on 6 March with support from three councillors – two from the IPC and one from the United Democratic Front – alleges that Imbamba’s leadership has weakened the council’s effectiveness. “The chairperson has failed to unite the team; members are divided under her leadership,” he stated. Further citing the Regional Councils Act and the code of conduct, Benson accused Imbamba of unilateral decision-making, ignoring feedback, and lacking vision and judgment, and argued that her actions contradict principles of fairness and inclusivity. “A member may not discriminate, but must treat all people equally in the exercise of their functions. The chairperson has disregarded this fundamental principle,” he claimed. The motion further alleges that Imbamba operates in isolation, uses a “divide and rule” approach, and has eroded the council’s integrity. “At the rate at which the council is functioning under her leadership, nothing of value can be achieved,” Benson argued. In a response dated 14 March, Imbamba dismissed the motion as baseless and politically-driven. “There is no legal or factual basis for this motion. The section of the act cited by Benson applies to ordinary management committee members, not the chairperson,” she countered. Imbamba challenged Benson to provide specific evidence of misconduct, stating that his claims were vague and unsubstantiated. “The honourable councillor is simply throwing bones, hoping that a dog will catch them. Baseless allegations ruin reputations and should not be made without evidence,” she said. Denying accusations of divisive leadership, Imbamba insisted that council decisions are made collectively. “The successful implementation of policies depends on all of us. I do not operate in isolation,” she stated. The chairperson defended her tenure, maintaining that she has upheld the council’s integrity and kept an open-door policy. In addition, Imbamba suggested that the motion is politically-motivated ahead of the regional and local authority elections slated for November this year. “We are at a crucial time where everyone is trying to garner votes, but this platform should not be abused for personal vendettas,” she cautioned. The post Erongo council divided over no confidence motion against chairperson appeared first on The Namibian.

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