The Namibia Association of Local Authority Officials (NALAO) has raised questions over the suspension of Omaruru municipality chief executive officer (CEO) Valentinus Sindongo.
The association describes the move as a potential violation of fair labour practices and due process.
Sindongo was suspended by the municipality on Tuesday pending investigations into allegations of maladministration and irregularities.
Reacting to the decision on Wednesday, Nalao president Moses Matyayi said while local authorities have the mandate to ensure accountability and exercise oversight, disciplinary measures against senior officials must be conducted within the confines of the law and established procedures.
“Based on information available to us, the suspension appears to have been effected without adherence to the principles of due process and fair labour practice,” he said.
He warned that arbitrary or procedurally flawed suspensions undermine good governance, institutional stability and public confidence in local authorities.
Matyayi said the incident highlights longstanding concerns surrounding the employment conditions, disciplinary processes and job security of chief executive officers and senior managers in local government.
According to Nalao, local authority CEOs remain among the most vulnerable employees in the public sector due to their fixed-term contracts, which often run for five years and are not always renewed without councils providing reasons.
“Suspensions and disciplinary measures can be instituted with limited accountability for those responsible, often resulting in uncertainty, reputational damage and instability within local authorities,” he said.
The association renewed its call for comprehensive local government reforms, particularly the establishment of a local government service commission as proposed under the local government reform policy.
Matyayi said such a commission would provide an independent and professional mechanism to oversee appointments, employment conditions, performance management, disciplinary matters and career development of local government CEOs and senior officials.
Omaruru mayor Eberth Gariseb, however, defended the council’s decision, saying Sindongo was summoned to appear before council on Tuesday to be informed of the suspension but failed to attend.
Gariseb said the suspension was necessary to prevent any interference with ongoing investigations and to allow the process to proceed unhindered.
“We must clarify that the CEO’s suspension does not mean he is guilty. All the council did was to suspend him to allow the investigation to carry on unhindered, and once the investigations are concluded, a decision will then be taken whether to return him or not,” he said.
The mayor said Sindongo would continue receiving his full salary and allowances while on suspension.
The suspension letter was eventually served on Wednesday after the CEO failed to appear before council, and prior communication regarding the suspension had also been sent via email, Gariseb said.
The latest development is not the first suspension involving an Omaruru CEO.
Former CEO Edward Ganaseb and seven councillors were suspended by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in December 2013 over allegations of maladministration.
Ganaseb remained on suspension for years before his contract eventually expired.
Another former CEO, John Nghihepa, was suspended in 2008 over alleged misconduct, underscoring a history of leadership disputes at the municipality.
