Suspended Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Councillor for the Swakopmund Constituency, Ciske Howard-Smith, has said she will not give up and walk away from the responsibility entrusted to her by the electorate over petty issues.
In an interview with Nampa on Thursday the councillor, who confirmed her suspension from representing the party in any manner, was responding to a question on whether she would be taking legal action against her suspension.
“I am in consultations with the relevant parties to ensure and understand where I stand in the matter. I also feel that I do have a responsibility towards my electorate who put their trust in me, so I cannot just step away and give up. I must carry their mandate,” she noted.
The councillor said she is not sure what her suspension means for her position as Swakopmund Constituency Councillor and that she is getting the necessary opinions on it regarding the future.
“What is unfair about this suspension is the fact that we are placing the people at risk. We are at a critical point in our Erongo Regional Council and I was not even consulted about what this would mean for the people and the electorate. It was not just IPC that elected me. I had an overwhelming win in Swakopmund and the entire region and for the party to take a decision to restrain me on the basis, seemingly of me not residing in the correct area, is grossly unfair and is an abuse of power,” she said.
Howard-Smith expressed disappointment, stating that her suspension letter did not even refer to the meeting’s events and adding that she feels there should have been proper procedures followed before her suspension.
A statement issued by IPC on Thursday said the party plans to among others investigate her residence since being elected as councillor and her inappropriate conduct during an Erongo Regional Executive Committee (EREC) meeting at headquarters.
“She was thereupon advised on the basis of the minutes of the EREC the headquarters would recommend the proper investigations into her conduct and her ordinarily residence in the constituency of Swakopmund since her election,” the statement said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
