City CEO will be appointed this yearThe City of Windhoek is likely to have a new chief executive officer before the end of this year.
Mayor Muesee Kazapua told Nampa that the recruitment process will be finalised this year.
Kazapua said the council management committee will soon give their recommendations to the line minister, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa, for final approval.
The City of Windhoek has been without a chief executive officer since former CEO Niilo Taapopi’s term ended on 16 December 2014.
No suitable candidate was found for this crucial position in three interview sessions held since then.
Kazapua said during the fourth round of interviews in July this year, the top three candidates were Namdeb general manager Riaan Burger; Erongo Regional Electricity Distributor chief executive Robert Kahimise and former Social Security Commission chief executive Kenandai Tjivikua.
The fourth candidate was Sanlam Namibia CEO Tega Shiimi ya Shiimi, Kazapua said.
“The council management committee will soon come up with recommendations between the top three candidates and the minister will give the final approval,” he said.
It was reported recently that the interview panel recommended Burger for the position.
The panellists for the fourth round of interviews included Ohlthaver & List Group chairperson Sven Thieme, Namport CEO Bisey /Uirab, presidential adviser Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, chief regional officer of the Khomas Regional Council Clement Mwafila, and finance permanent secretary Ericah Shafudah.
They were also the panellists for the third round of interviews in September 2015.
However, some of the city management team and council management members were said to be against the panel recommendations to appoint Burger as City of Windhoek CEO because he is white.
Burger worked at Namdeb as engineering manager from 2006 to 2008, and was later promoted to head of strategic projects, a position he served in from March 2007 until 2011. In 2012, Burger was promoted to general manager at the diamond company.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
The city council has appointed its strategic executive for human resources, Fillemon Hambuda, as acting CEO from 1 September 2015 until further notice.
NAMPA