Otjiwarongo: Otjiwarongo Municipality councillors clashed during a council meeting on Tuesday over a proposed project to install seven closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras aimed at combating crime in the town.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Otjiwarongo Mayor Leonard Simushi stated that councillors were divided over how the CCTV installation should be implemented in crime hotspots identified by the Namibian Police Force, particularly in the Orwetoveni residential area and other parts of the town.

Simushi mentioned that councillors Godhardt Hoko and Sebeteus Guiteb support appointing a company that installed the CCTV system along the B2 road between Arandis and Swakopmund in the Erongo Region. "They want the company to be handpicked to install these seven cameras in Otjiwarongo as part of a 12-month pilot project," Simushi said.

Councillor Gerd Sohrada expressed a different opinion, arguing in favor of considering the existing Otjiwarongo neighbourhood watch, which already operates about 30 surveillance cameras linked to its control room. "As mayor, I believe the council should invite the expressions of interest from all qualified companies and allow them to submit applications and make presentations to us. We cannot handpick one company for a pilot project, as this may create an impression that the council has already decided to award it the tender," Simushi said.

The disagreement reportedly escalated into a verbal exchange of words between Sohrada and Hoko during Tuesday's council meeting. Both Hoko and Sohrada confirmed to Namibia Press Agency on Thursday morning that the incident did occur, but stressed that the matter was resolved before the meeting concluded. The municipality's three other councillors-Namibia Kandume, Magano Johannes, and Ernest Afrikaner-were allegedly neutral during the debate.