By Joe-Chintha Garises
Mariental, Aug. 26 – The Landless People’s Movement (LMP) will not be part of the commemoration of Heroes Day that is being hosted at Mariental.
The mayor of the town, Cherien Kock, said among other reasons, they were not involved in any of the planning for the day, which is why they will be boycotting the commemoration.
“We were never acknowledged and we were never consulted during the preparation sessions and at the end of the day, they still want to use our resources without the acknowledgement or approval of the council. There are flags put up in the town that they never have asked approval from, this is the council’s property and even if it’s a national event we are responsible for this town and we give approval to anything that happens in this town.
“If the president asks why is that happening then we are the ones who take responsibility for the town and are held accountable for the doings of the town,” Kock said
Kock further said in 2021 the central government cut the town’s budget and no funds were released for projects to improve the informal settlement but they are hosting a big celebration in the town whose budget was cut.
“They are hosting a big event just to feed people potato salad and whatever they give instead of using that money for the upgrading of the town’s informal settlement. Our people need this money more than celebrating Heroes Day,” Kock explained.
To acknowledge the heroes and heroines of the Hardap region, the town council is having a street renaming on 26 August 2022 in Mariental.
Four heroes who will have streets named after them are Katrina Hanse-Himarua, the late chief Petrus Simon Kooper, chief of the Kai-||Khaun clan, Joseph Mutinga, and the late Matthys Cronje.
“We are here to restore the dignity of our people and it is very insane of our government that on that specific day there is a food plate for you as a citizen but the whole time they struggle with all the basic needs that the council has to offer.
“We don’t have money and we have to reach out to private partners to help with the installation of water pipes in informal settlements. It is such a disgrace that the government hosts this big event in Mariental where you as residents, as voters have to be blindfolded not to see the bigger picture of what is happening and what is the purpose of hosting a Heroes Day event.
“Voters must wake up and smell the coffee and see the surroundings it’s the new era that we now have to see the bigger picture in this regard and also for the sake of our future generations. We are not policing anything we are just here with real facts to change your destination and restore your lives,” Kock said.
