Rundu
The Kavango East Regional Council (KERC) has appointed the director for general services, Ludwig Thikusho, to act as the chief regional officer (CRO) following the retirement of Sebastian Kantema.
Kantema has for the past 12 years been the CRO of the former Kavango Regional Council which was demarcated into two regions, namely Kavango West and East Region.
According to the Kavango East senior public relations officer, Olavi Haikera, Thikusho’s appointment came into effect on January 1 and will come to an end in March. If the position is not filled by then Ambrossius Makongwa who is the director for planning and development services in the KERC will take over as acting CRO for three months.
“Sebastian Kantema has been the chief regional officer for Kavango Regional Council for the past 12 years and was initially supposed to go on retirement two years ago but was given the extra years to oversee the administrative separation of the now Kavango West Regional Council and Kavango East Regional Council,” Haikera said.
The council is currently in search of a new CRO for which interviews will be held this month.
When the two regions separated the old Kavango Regional Council also launched a legacy book which is the first of its kind among regional councils.
“I am humbled to introduce to our all our esteemed stakeholders the first legacy book for the old council,” Haikera said.
The book details the work of the councillors and the chief regional officer, with special focus on activities they (the councillors who have just left office and chief regional officer) have undertaken, highlighting their achievements and challenges as well as lessons learned.
“The book highlights aspects such as growth in respective constituencies, capital projects and investment opportunities created over the years, memoranda of understanding (MoUs) that the council have engaged in, community development activities, provision of water, electricity, roads, schools and sanitation, amongst others,” added Haikera.