The Bukalo village council has appointed Chester Likando as acting CEO, while they try to find a suitable candidate for the top executive job.

This comes after nearly a month when the former CEO, Martin Limbo, had allegedly refused to vacate office, despite his contract having ended in May.

Limbo, however, finally handed over the office keys last week.

His contract ended on 31 May and the village council did not extend it. 

The former CEO had since refused to hand over the office keys, although he was served with a non-renewal of his employment contract notice by the council on 24 February. He at the time denied that council ever served him with a notice to vacate the office, claiming maybe he was yet to receive it. 
Bukalo village council chairperson Candy Namatama on Friday confirmed that council appointed senior HR practitioner, Likando as acting CEO.

“We appointed Chester Likando as the acting CEO as of 1 June,” Namatama said.

However, she said the council did not advertise the CEO position because there is still a pending labour court case arising from the non-renewal of Limbo’s contract.

In an attempt to have his contract extended, Limbo took council to the labour court, where the matter has been set down for a conciliation meeting for an arbitration hearing. The set date for the hearing will be on 1-3 September at Katima Mulilo. 

In the letter, dated 6 May and seen by New Era addressed to chairperson Namatama, Chris Mayumbelo & Co are demanding the renewal of their client’s fixed-term contract of employment, for a further period of five years that would end on 31 May 2025 if it is renewed. 

“Your council’s minutes of the meeting of 17 February 2020, where a purported decision was taken not to renew the fixed-term contract of our client was not taken, or caused to be taken in line with the provision of section 15 (1) of the Local Authorities Act, 1992 (Act No.23 of 1992) as amended,” the letter read. 
Council suspended Limbo on 7 October 2016 with full benefits and he was subsequently dismissed on 17 August 2017. 
Limbo registered the first dispute with the council after exhausting all internal appeals even with the regional council management committee from 19 September 2017.  The matter went through the labour court from thereon until 14 June 2019 when it was finalised. Limbo won the labour case and he was reinstated with effect from 1 October 2019. By the time, he was only left with eight months of his initial contract ending on 31 May this year as he started on 1 June 2015. 
His lawyers argued the same council that does not want to renew Limbo’s stay interrupted his contract.  – anakale@nepc.com.na