Municipal managers at odds with City Council

SIMMERING tension between elected councillors and managers at the Windhoek Municipality is expected to come to a head at a meeting planned for today.

The top management is reported to have called the meeting amid claims that some councillors, led by Mayor Matheus Shikongo, are interfering in the administration of the city. Junior staff in the municipality said tension between the two structures had become pronounced lately, with investigations being undertaken in several departments without the knowledge of the heads of divisions, officially called strategic executives.One of the issues mentioned is that the investigation into questionable land purchases by property manager Lazarus Shaduka was reportedly conducted at the initiative of the Mayor.Councillors are also being accused of unilaterally stepping in to end a road maintenance contract after the contractor breached the terms, but this was apparently because of management’s failure to deal with the matter for nearly a year.A few months ago, Shikongo clashed with management over the sale of prime land to Paragon Investments, the company of comedian and businessman Lazarus Jacobs.Shikongo charged that procedures had not been followed, but management disputed this.According to Chief Executive Niilo Taapopi, the municipality had acted procedurally in permitting the sale of the property to proceed.Taapopi told a press briefing in July that the municipality was allowed to grant permission to an entity to acquire ground for the purpose of “special projects” by private treaty.He said it was also in line with city’s objective of “accommodating the aspirations” of previously disadvantaged persons.The sale will be subject to ministerial approval.What appears to have pushed the top executives into requesting today’s meeting was Shikongo’s public criticism of truancy at the municipality or managers spending municipal time doing private jobs.Some senior managers have reportedly questioned the role of CEO Taapopi.They claim he has a hands-off management style and that this has allowed Shikongo to stamp his authority on the day-to-day running of Windhoek.”The relationship is now very sour between the strategic executives and the councillors.The CEO of the city is not protecting his managers,” said one senior manager.Shikongo confirmed that a meeting was to be held to deal with tension between managers and elected officials.”I don’t know that it [tensions] is to the extent that you are mentioning,” said Shikongo, dismissing allegations of undue interference.Shikongo said municipal laws empowered the mayor to get closely involved in the administration of the city.He declined to say more about the meeting.It appears that some of the managers are worried about persistent rumours that Windhoek is considering the concept of an executive mayor, which would allow the top elected councillor closer scrutiny of the city’s affairs.The concept was mentioned at last month’s leadership conference of the ruling Swapo Party.* Tangeni Amupadhi is a freelance journalistJunior staff in the municipality said tension between the two structures had become pronounced lately, with investigations being undertaken in several departments without the knowledge of the heads of divisions, officially called strategic executives.One of the issues mentioned is that the investigation into questionable land purchases by property manager Lazarus Shaduka was reportedly conducted at the initiative of the Mayor.Councillors are also being accused of unilaterally stepping in to end a road maintenance contract after the contractor breached the terms, but this was apparently because of management’s failure to deal with the matter for nearly a year.A few months ago, Shikongo clashed with management over the sale of prime land to Paragon Investments, the company of comedian and businessman Lazarus Jacobs.Shikongo charged that procedures had not been followed, but management disputed this.According to Chief Executive Niilo Taapopi, the municipality had acted procedurally in permitting the sale of the property to proceed.Taapopi told a press briefing in July that the municipality was allowed to grant permission to an entity to acquire ground for the purpose of “special projects” by private treaty.He said it was also in line with city’s objective of “accommodating the aspirations” of previously disadvantaged persons.The sale will be subject to ministerial approval.What appears to have pushed the top executives into requesting today’s meeting was Shikongo’s public criticism of truancy at the municipality or managers spending municipal time doing private jobs.Some senior managers have reportedly questioned the role of CEO Taapopi.They claim he has a hands-off management style and that this has allowed Shikongo to stamp his authority on the day-to-day running of Windhoek.”The relationship is now very sour between the strategic executives and the councillors.The CEO of the city is not protecting his managers,” said one senior manager.Shikongo confirmed that a meeting was to be held to deal with tension between managers and elected officials.”I don’t know that it [tensions] is to the extent that you are mentioning,” said Shikongo, dismissing allegations of undue interference.Shikongo said municipal laws empowered the mayor to get closely involved in the administration of the city.He declined to say more about the meeting.It appears that some of the managers are worried about persistent rumours that Windhoek is considering the concept of an executive mayor, which would allow the top elected councillor closer scrutiny of the city’s affairs.The concept was mentioned at last month’s leadership conference of the ruling Swapo Party. * Tangeni Amupadhi is a freelance journalist