Windhoek
Windhoek City Council has appointed Fillemon Hambuda as acting CEO for a period of two months, after failing to recruit a suitable candidate from among the people who recently applied for the top job.
The appointment of Hambuda, who is the City’s strategic executive for human resources, came into effect on September 1. City spokesman Joshua Amukugo said the recent re-advertisement of the vacant CEO position yielded a total of 23 applications and the interviewing panel shortlisted five candidates, who were subsequently interviewed.
“Unfortunately this process ended without finding a suitable candidate for appointment,” he said, adding that “Council is now expected to pronounce itself on the way forward regarding the filling of this crucial and strategic position that has been vacant for almost a year.”
Amukugo said the members of the selection panel asked for more time to finalise the process and therefore the recruitment period has been extended. He then announced that in the interim Hambuda has been appointed as acting CEO for up to two months, or until a new CEO is appointed, whichever comes first.
The City’s Strategic Executive Manager for Electricity, Edward Kawesha, held the position of acting CEO after the Nillo Taapopi left the post.
When asked yesterday about what happened to Kawesha since the appointment of Hambuda, Amukugo said they are using a rotational approach and that the City is not sending a message that they only have one person who can act in that capacity.