THE ongoing controversy over the appointment of a chief regional officer for the Omaheke Regional Council has taken another twist – this time the former Chief Executive Officer is allegedly refusing to vacate both the office and the official residence supposed to be used by the new manager.
After opposing the appointment for months, the Omaheke Regional Council finally succumbed to political pressure from Government and accepted former Walvis Bay Mayor Balbina Pienaar as its new Chief Regional Officer. But when Pienaar took up her new position yesterday she found herself having to operate from the board room without either a telephone or a computer.The former CEO, Pederius Uaetotjari Tjihoreko, has allegedly refused to leave the office used by the region’s successive top administrators.As if this was not enough, Pienaar has also apparently sought accommodation from relatives as Tjihoreko has remained put in the luxurious Government house earmarked for her.Tjihoreko, who was moved to the position of Director of Planning, and 10 other chief executives have challenged a plan by Government to replace them as heads of their regions.They argued that they faced the loss of their jobs.Tjihoreko initially had strong backing from the Council which had recommended that the former CEO be promoted to the new position.But the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing advised the Council to proceed with the appointment of Pienaar after receiving instructions from the Office of the Attorney General.Pienaar confirmed to The Namibian that she had refused to accept an office given to her on Monday because “I know very well the office I am supposed to operate from”.”I have to be honest with you I am not going to co-operate on this issue and I would not allow anybody to intimidate me …I won’t take that hidden office they want to give me,” the former mayor stressed.Concerning the accommodation, she charged:”That is a Government house, maybe to me personally it is not an issue, but I don’t understand … we cannot try to own what is not ours.”Permanent Secretary of Regional and Local Government and Housing ,Erastus Negonga, was equally surprised to hear about the problem, saying “nothing has been reported to the Ministry”.”What are the reasons given for his [Tjihoreko’s] refusal to move,” Negonga asked when contacted for comment.”They knew that the chief regional officer was starting on Monday.It’s strange that no proper arrangements seem to have been made.”Omaheke Governor Laura McLeod could not comment as she claimed not to be aware of the problem, despite the disputed office being in the same building she operates from.But when Pienaar took up her new position yesterday she found herself having to operate from the board room without either a telephone or a computer.The former CEO, Pederius Uaetotjari Tjihoreko, has allegedly refused to leave the office used by the region’s successive top administrators.As if this was not enough, Pienaar has also apparently sought accommodation from relatives as Tjihoreko has remained put in the luxurious Government house earmarked for her.Tjihoreko, who was moved to the position of Director of Planning, and 10 other chief executives have challenged a plan by Government to replace them as heads of their regions.They argued that they faced the loss of their jobs.Tjihoreko initially had strong backing from the Council which had recommended that the former CEO be promoted to the new position.But the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing advised the Council to proceed with the appointment of Pienaar after receiving instructions from the Office of the Attorney General.Pienaar confirmed to The Namibian that she had refused to accept an office given to her on Monday because “I know very well the office I am supposed to operate from”.”I have to be honest with you I am not going to co-operate on this issue and I would not allow anybody to intimidate me …I won’t take that hidden office they want to give me,” the former mayor stressed.Concerning the accommodation, she charged:”That is a Government house, maybe to me personally it is not an issue, but I don’t understand … we cannot try to own what is not ours.”Permanent Secretary of Regional and Local Government and Housing ,Erastus Negonga, was equally surprised to hear about the problem, saying “nothing has been reported to the Ministry”.”What are the reasons given for his [Tjihoreko’s] refusal to move,” Negonga asked when contacted for comment.”They knew that the chief regional officer was starting on Monday.It’s strange that no proper arrangements seem to have been made.”Omaheke Governor Laura McLeod could not comment as she claimed not to be aware of the problem, despite the disputed office being in the same building she operates from.
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