WALVIS BAY – Urban and Rural Development minister Erastus Uutoni has given the Walvis Bay municipality until next Wednesday to rectify the appointment of David Uushona as acting CEO.
According to a letter seen by New Era, Uutoni says the appointment is not in line with the Local Authorities Act.
“Kindly be advised that junior staff members cannot be appointed in an acting capacity while a general manager is available. Your council’s decision to appoint a manager as an acting CEO is contrary to the established hierarchy, reporting channels and norms,” he said.
His request comes after the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), on behalf of its members, approached the minister to intervene in the matter.
Uushona was appointed in June by the management committee, consisting of chairperson Richard Hoaeb, Olivia Andrews and Ronald Bramwell, to take over the reins from John Esterhuizen, who had been acting in the position.
He is currently employed as the manager for solid waste and environment management, while Esterhuizen is the general manager of the same department.
Walvis Bay has been without a CEO since November 2021 after the council opted not to renew Muronga Haingura’s contract when it ended, shortly after he served a seven-month suspension.
Since then, the position had only been filled on an interim basis.
Meanwhile, new substantive CEO Victoria Kapenda is only expected to assume the role on 2 September.
Uushona’s appointment has become a bone of contention, as councillors Ryan Gordon, Albertina Nkoshi, Ephraim Shozi and Paulus Kauhondamwa have been opposing the appointment.
As a result, the councillors themselves also sought intervention from the minister, but still could not make collective decisions.
Despite the request from the minister, the municipality yesterday issued a statement to justify Uushona’s appointment.
The council explained that they, in November 2023, made a submission to allow heads of department to perform duties usually carried out by the CEO under various legislations like the Public Procurement Act and the Local Authorities Act.
“The resolution taken on 27 November 2023 allowed heads of department to temporarily act as CEO for short periods to ensure continuity in operations. This was meant to allow workflow, especially for procurement and day-to-day operations, to run smoothly during the CEO’s short absences,” the statement reads.
On 13 June 2024, the management committee appointed Uushona as acting CEO in line with Section 27 (4) of the Local Authorities Act of 1992, which permits the designation of a staff member to perform the CEO’s duties when the CEO is absent or the position is vacant.
“The LA Act gives the management committee powers to appoint ‘a staff member’ as an acting CEO. As such, apart from having confidence in Mr Uushona’s abilities, these are the reasons presented by the MC to resolve to appoint Uushona as acting CEO,” the statement reads.