By Mbatjiua Ngavirue
Gobabis Municipality seems uniquely successful among Namibian towns in implementing affirmative action in a smooth, harmonious manner while causing as little disruption to services as possible.
Mayor of Gobabis Platini Katjaoha said that until very recently virtually all the heads of the departments at the municipality, including the CEO and the Town Engineer, were white.
Now three out of the six heads of departments are from previously disadvantaged groups, resulting in a 50% distribution among the top positions.
The town was fortunate that it managed to implement transformation without undergoing a major restructuring or retrenchment process, with all the associated disruption and cost of such exercises.
Some ex-municipal managers had worked for the town as long as 45 years and were due for retirement anyway.
Most of the positions became vacant through retirements and resignations, but it never became necessary to resort to dismissals.
“We took advantage of the situation to bring about the necessary transformation and balance needed at the municipality,” Katjaoha said.
The most recent appointments are Ephraim Davids as Chief Executive Officer of Gobabis and Festus Marenga as Public Relations Officer and Local Economic Development Officer.
Other significant appointments are Gabes Muteka as Town Engineer, Tinana Matjila as Town Secretary and Frieda Shimakeleni as Human Resource Officer.
The town also recruited Ebba Kamati to the accounting department – a previously all-white department.
The three remaining white heads of department are at the Treasury, Property Management and Town Health Officers departments.
Gobabis appears to have achieved transformation without resorting to some artificial tactics employed in some towns.
These include measures such as double staffing where there is one black and one white person for every top position, resulting in a massive drain on the town’s coffers and a deterioration in services.
“We tried to do it in such a way that balance and affirmative action could be brought about within the existing structure.
“All the people we have recruited were adequately qualified for their jobs.
“No racial conflict resulted, which is a clear sign that they accept each other, and the capacities in which they were appointed,” the Mayor added.