Tjitombo out for now CEO position to be re-advertised Following weeks of chaos and accusations of favouritism, the Opuwo Town Council was advised to re-advertise the position of the CEO. The Opuwo Town Council management committee concurred to re-advertise the chief executive officer''s position following allegations of nepotism levelled against the mayor, Albert Tjiuma who earlier advertised the CEO''s position without a full council resolution.“On Wednesday of last week, the council management committee met and decided that the position will be re-advertised at the end of this month. The council also already decided who is going to act from the beginning of next month,” the source said.
This was confirmed by the council''s human resources department which said the position will be advertised on 22 October. Only new applications are to be considered. “We are going to communicate to those who have already applied to encourage them to reapply,” the department confirmed.
The department however, could not say how many people had applied by the closing date. Namibian Sun is reliably informed that up to a day before the closing date (11 October), only six people had applied including the current CEO Alfons Tjitombo.
A source from the council told Namibian Sun that during the local authorities'' framework workshop last month in Rundu, which was attended by senior officials and council members of local authorities, the Opuwo Town Council was advised to follow the correct procedures in filling the executive position.
“We were advised that the issue of the top position must first go through the management committee discussions, so that they can make a decision on how it is going to be advertised,” the councilor said.
The current CEO''s contract ends on 30 October and the councillors have not automatically renewed Tjitombo''s contract following allegations levelled against him by the Opuwo Community Concerned Group. It is alleged that the mayor made a solitary decision to advertise the post without a full council resolution.
Namibian Sun recently reported that the mayor, Albert Tjiuma is said to favour Tjitombo by allowing him to facilitate the town''s executive position that he is entitled to apply for. The position has been advertised twice and the closing date was on Wednesday, (12 October.)
In September, Namibian Sun also reported that Kunene Governor, Angelika Muharukua tried to lobby the town council members to automatically renew Tjitombo''s contract and it is alleged that only the mayor and deputy mayor supported the lobby. When contacted, Mayor Tjiuma said “I am not aware of all that and that is all I can say.”
ILENI NANDJATO