Omaruru municipality limping

THE Omaruru municipality has been hit by a spate of resignations by its senior staff.

A letter written by concerned members of the community to the Anti-Corruption Commission said the resignations together with alleged corrupt practices at the council have put the authority on the ‘verge of collapse and bankruptcy’.Mayor Vincent Kahua said the positions will be filled within a month.Kahua acknowledged the existence of the letter, but said it was not authored by the community, but some disgruntled municipal staff.The town has been without a chief executive officer since last year, following the resignation of Werner Iita.Roswitha Kaura, the human resources manager, who was the acting CEO, was suspended last week together with Ephraim Katjatenja, who was demoted from municipal spokesman to driver.Just last week, the municipality bade farewell to its finance and technical managers who are said to have resigned in pursuit of greener pastures.The selection of a CEO was halted two weeks ago after confidential information about the identities of the interview panel was leaked to the candidates, according to Kahua. The position was re-advertised to ensure fairness. ‘After we re-advertised, we received 27 applicants and have already shortlisted seven. We have a panel of five experts whom the council has decided will do the interviews and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government has confirmed that he will be present or send a representative. The interviews will take place next week, April 24,’ he said.Kahua said after the interviews, the successful candidate will be notified within two days. Amanda Meyer is currently at the helm as acting CEO. Kahua said interviews for a new finance manager took place yesterday and the position of technical manager will be advertised next week. Joseph Haipinge currently serves as the acting technical manager.Asked about the reason for the high number of resignations, Kahua said the council found that those who had resigned had been offered better salaries elsewhere.Kahua also said there were elements in the council who are trying to sabotage the council’s progress, and that this is all politically motivated.Referring to the letter purported to be from the townspeople, Kahua said the municipality had investigated its origins and found that it was written by two suspended staff members.Kahua said the council had a meeting with the townspeople at the beginning of the month and none of them had any grievances.’At that meeting, we provided the community with the opportunity to ask questions and to air their grievances and none of them had a problem. We have in the past received letters from the community regarding what they want improved in the town an inquiring about the progress made to the town, but not this time,’ he said.