NHE staff eagerly await new boss

THE Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development this week remained mum on the announcement of a new boss to take over the reigns at the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) after the departure of Mike Kavekotora.

Kavekotora, who last week was shown the door after trying in vain to bid for a second term at the helm of the housing enterprise, is due to be replaced by September. Sources said staff and management were eagerly awaiting a new head at the parastatal accused of slowly losing key focus over the years.It is understood that Vinson Hailulu, former chief executive officer of the Windhoek Municipality, is set to take over at the troubled parastatal, which continues to be dogged by management problems.Gottfried Uaendere, a technical services general manager is acting in the position for one month while the new appointment is finalised.It is understood that Ministry officials are concerned over allegations by workers of maladministration and hefty salaries that they feel is not in synch with the core business of the institution – providing houses to the needy poor.Local Government Minister John Pandeni declined to divulge details on the issue, insisting a public announcement would be made once the selection process was over.But speaking at the official hand over of some 214 houses in Otjomuise last week, Pandeni urged management at the NHE to ‘clean up their act’ and dispel rumours of mismanagement making the rounds.He said: “I must hasten to caution that the NHE should dispel the perception prevalent amongst its employees that it is more interested in self-enrichment as opposed to concentrating on the core business of the organisation: namely providing affordable housing to the people in accordance with the 2004 Swapo Party election manifesto.”Documents in possession of The Namibian show that a chief executive at the housing enterprise pockets anything between N$13 000 and N$16 000 a month as a transport allowance (in addition to the monthly salary), translating to a grand total of at least N$156 000 annually.A medical doctor at the Katutura Hospital, for example, is understood to receive a salary well below the transport allowance.A public relations official with the NHE, however, indicated that the dust was settling following the news of the departure of Kavekotora.The official said the appointment of a new head at the parastatal was set to be discussed in cabinet before final approval is sought.Earlier, the former NHE chief executive dismissed the allegations of inflated packages, saying they were market driven.He said that across the world salaries and packages were market driven depending on skills availability.He added that as an employee he did not determine his own salary but that “it was negotiated and agreed upon with the chairman of the board representing the employer”.Sources said staff and management were eagerly awaiting a new head at the parastatal accused of slowly losing key focus over the years.It is understood that Vinson Hailulu, former chief executive officer of the Windhoek Municipality, is set to take over at the troubled parastatal, which continues to be dogged by management problems.Gottfried Uaendere, a technical services general manager is acting in the position for one month while the new appointment is finalised.It is understood that Ministry officials are concerned over allegations by workers of maladministration and hefty salaries that they feel is not in synch with the core business of the institution – providing houses to the needy poor.Local Government Minister John Pandeni declined to divulge details on the issue, insisting a public announcement would be made once the selection process was over.But speaking at the official hand over of some 214 houses in Otjomuise last week, Pandeni urged management at the NHE to ‘clean up their act’ and dispel rumours of mismanagement making the rounds.He said: “I must hasten to caution that the NHE should dispel the perception prevalent amongst its employees that it is more interested in self-enrichment as opposed to concentrating on the core business of the organisation: namely providing affordable housing to the people in accordance with the 2004 Swapo Party election manifesto.”Documents in possession of The Namibian show that a chief executive at the housing enterprise pockets anything between N$13 000 and N$16 000 a month as a transport allowance (in addition to the monthly salary), translating to a grand total of at least N$156 000 annually.A medical doctor at the Katutura Hospital, for example, is understood to receive a salary well below the transport allowance.A public relations official with the NHE, however, indicated that the dust was settling following the news of the departure of Kavekotora.The official said the appointment of a new head at the parastatal was set to be discussed in cabinet before final approval is sought.Earlier, the former NHE chief executive dismissed the allegations of inflated packages, saying they were market driven.He said that across the world salaries and packages were market driven depending on skills availability.He added that as an employee he did not determine his own salary but that “it was negotiated and agreed upon with the chairman of the board representing the employer”.