2015-07-31Staff Report 2 Windhoek Five candidates have been shortlisted for the job of CEO of the City of Windhoek and the interviews took place yesterday. Municipal spokesperson Lydia Amutenya was not in a position to disclose their names, but it is understood these would be made public as soon as the top candidate has been confirmed. The City re-advertised the post earlier this month, stating that an independent panel tasked with appointing the CEO broadened the required qualificationsto include public administration and engineering to the existing criteria. The job, which is offered on the basis of a five-year contract, calls for a candidate with a Masters degree and 10 years managerial experience, of which at least seven were at executive leadership level, among other requirements. The City had advertised the position several times, with no successful candidate emerging after the 10-year term of its former CEO, Niilo Taapopi, ended on June 6 last year. Previously, there were unconfirmed media reports that certain councillors were conniving to appoint a less-than-suitable candidate as CEO of Windhoek, but their plans were apparently aborted after ministerial intervention. The City’s management team had set a timeline for the appointment of the CEO, which includes a panel meeting to shortlist candidates, set interview dates and consult with the Minister of Urban and Rural Development. Amutenya said yesterday that they are well on track with the process. “The interviews are taking place today (Thursday) and five candidates have been shortlisted,” she confirmed. She said the timeline to appoint the CEO run as follows: the re-advertisement took place on July 3 to 17, the panel meeting responsible for shortlisting the candidates took place between July 17 and 23 and submission to management committee between July 24 to 30. She said that consultation with the Minister of Urban and Rural Development is due before August 5, while at a date yet to be confirmed the recommendation would be submitted to a special session of the City Council. Council announced earlier this month that the Executive Chairman of Olthaver and List, Sven Thieme, is heading the recruitment panel responsible for interviewing candidates for the position. The panel consists of Namibia Ports Authority CEO Bisey Uirab, Chief Regional Officer of Khomas Clement Mafwila, Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Erica Shafudah, and Namdeb’s Managing Director Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi. 2015-07-31Staff Report 2
