Windhoek
The City of Windhoek has opted not to include any of its councillors, as members of the panel that will oversee the recruitment of a new chief executive officer, in a bid to have an independent panel to replace former CEO Niilo Taapopi.
Previously, sources told New Era, some councillors had vested interest in the appointment of a new CEO and this was done at the exclusion of some candidates.
City of Windhoek spokesperson Joshua Amukugo confirmed this by saying the decision to omit councillors is to ensure that the city has an independent panel and to remove any perceptions that its councillors could rig the contentious exercise.
“Councillors are out because we want the panel to be highly independent,” Amukugo told New Era yesterday.
The City Council is dominated mainly by Swapo Party councillors, a situation which has left the previous panel compromised, as applicants felt that ruling party followers stood a better chance of getting the job compared to non-Swapo members.
The interview panel consists of Ohlthaver and List Executive Chairman Sven Thieme (chairperson), Namdeb Managing Director Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, NamPort Chief Executive Officer Bisey Uirab, Khomas Regional Council Chief Regional Officer Clemens Mafwila and Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Erica Shafudah.
Amukugo said 20 candidates applied for the coveted position, which is of national interest seeing that Windhoek is the administration hub of government.
He said the short-listing of the candidates would be completed by next Wednesday.
“The appointment of a new CEO for the City of Windhoek is expected to be concluded by the first week of July 2015 and we will continue to keep residents abreast with the process as it progresses,” he said.
The City wants Taapopi’s successor to be a Master’s degree in Business Administration/Strategic Management/Business Leadership or Leadership and Change Management holder, with a minimum of 10 years relevant experience, of which seven years must be at executive management level.
Zambian national and top executive Eddy Kawesha, the municipality’s strategic executive manager for electricity at the municipality, has been acting as CEO since last December when Taapopi vacated the office.
Taapopi’s term ended last June but it was extended to December.
In March, former Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, now Urban and Rural Development, (Retired) Major-General Charles Namoloh dissolved the previous panel, which comprised mainly city councillors, adding that the panel must consist of knowledgeable and qualified members.
“I gave them guidelines on how things should be done and about the panel composition to make the process more transparent, this is also to ensure that the panel consists of knowledgeable people. You cannot just have a lot of councillors as panellists,” stated Namoloh at the time.
City of Windhoek re-advertised the position earlier this year after the line ministry intervened. The previous panel, which consisted mainly of city councillors, had chosen Bank of Namibia employee Ndangi Katoma to be appointed as CEO.
City of Windhoek management committee chairperson Moses Shiikwa, deputy mayor Ndahangapo Mwadhina Veiko were all part of the previous panel that was dissolved by Namoloh earlier this year following complaints they wanted certain individuals who sources said were less qualified and inadequately experienced.