Rundu residents and leaders have criticised a proposed N$100 300 trip for mayor Andreas Jikerwa to attend a smart city conference in Barcelona, saying the money should instead be used to address the town’s challenges. Jikerwa has been nominated to attend the 15th Smart City Expo World Congress in Spain from 3 to 5 November. The proposal, seen by The Namibian, says the congress is intended to expose Jikerwa to international best practices, innovative solutions and collaborations essential to building future-ready territories. Jikerwa declined to comment last Monday, telling The Namibian that a council meeting would be held on Tuesday last week to discuss the matter. Rundu chief executive Olavi Nathaniel on Thursday said the submission is not a final decision. He said when a council receives an invitation, a submission is prepared for consideration and recommendation by the management committee before being forwarded to the full council for approval or rejection. “All official travels beyond the border are subjected and based on the merits to be approved by the line minister,” he said, adding that the council will not engage the media on matters still before the authority. The mayor’s cost includes N$54 776 for subsistence and travelling allowance, N$20 449 for economy-class air tickets, N$12 000 for transport, N$8 784 for the driver’s daily subsistence allowance, N$2 000 for the visa and a clothing grant of N$2 336. The expenditure would be drawn from the mayoral or corporate services vote. The proposed itinerary shows Jikerwa travelling from Rundu to Windhoek from 28 to 31 October, then flying to Barcelona on 31 October, before returning to Windhoek and eventually to Rundu on 9 November. Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa last week referred The Namibian to the ministry’s executive director, Wilhelmine Shivute, who says she had not yet