Politics claimed to be at play in search for Windhoek’s new CEO

TWO of Windhoek’s most senior city councillors have been accused of pushing for the appointment of a “political candidate” as Chief Executive Officer.

The Namibian has learned that Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo and the Chairman of the Management Committee, Bjoern von Finckenstein, were allegedly side-stepping the results of interviews and competency tests in their drive to install Niilo Taapopi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, as Windhoek’s new CEO. On Wednesday afternoon the two are said to have called an emergency meeting of fellow Swapo councillors and instructed them that Taapopi was the ruling party’s preferred candidate.The two senior councillors have been accused of having pre-determined the outcome of the interviews.However, both Shikongo and Von Finckenstein yesterday denied they were trying to unduly push for one candidate.However, they declined to elaborate until after a decision was taken at a Council meeting last night.The lobbying came the day before the City Council was to meet for the last time to take what will be their last and biggest decision before bowing out.On Monday, the Management Committee – consisting of Von Finckenstein, Olga Katjipi, Elaine Trepper and Helena Tlhabanello – interviewed eight candidates.Municipal sources claim that George Mayumbelo, the city’s senior manager for community service, Premier Electric CEO Festus Lameck, and at least one other candidate scored higher than Taapopi in both the interviews and other tests.Three of the councillors voted to recommend Mayumbelo and the next closest candidate for appointment by the full meeting of the Council.But Von Finckenstein objected.Instead he and Shikongo lobbied other councillors ahead of last night’s meeting.It is the second time controversy has engulfed the search for the city’s top administrator.Sources said the post had to be advertised twice after Taapopi’s application was reportedly accepted late and some councillors complained.Taapopi is up against his counterpart at the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing, Erastus Negonga; Tsumeb chief administrator Boniface Mutumba; and former diplomat Tonata Emvula.The Namibian understands that Von Finckenstein’s lobbying is said to have resulted in the Management Committee recommending Taapopi, although other councillors wanted a compromise that would see more than one choice put to the Council meeting.It is not clear why the two have been pressing for Taapopi.It has been previously reported that there are those in Government who favour Taapopi who they would like to see get the City Police up and running.When asked about this, Von Finckenstein said: “That is certainly your own information.The decision will be taken by Council.”He was only prepared to confirm that interviews took place on Monday.Shikongo said he would only speak about the issue after the weekend.The two councillors are high on Swapo’s list of candidates and are expected to be returned as councillors after today’s elections.One of the opposition councillors said: “The management only makes recommendations.They cannot influence us.I will speak my mind, even if it means that we deal with orders from a Minister, and make sure that the right candidate is appointed.The knives are out on this one.”On Wednesday afternoon the two are said to have called an emergency meeting of fellow Swapo councillors and instructed them that Taapopi was the ruling party’s preferred candidate.The two senior councillors have been accused of having pre-determined the outcome of the interviews.However, both Shikongo and Von Finckenstein yesterday denied they were trying to unduly push for one candidate.However, they declined to elaborate until after a decision was taken at a Council meeting last night.The lobbying came the day before the City Council was to meet for the last time to take what will be their last and biggest decision before bowing out.On Monday, the Management Committee – consisting of Von Finckenstein, Olga Katjipi, Elaine Trepper and Helena Tlhabanello – interviewed eight candidates.Municipal sources claim that George Mayumbelo, the city’s senior manager for community service, Premier Electric CEO Festus Lameck, and at least one other candidate scored higher than Taapopi in both the interviews and other tests.Three of the councillors voted to recommend Mayumbelo and the next closest candidate for appointment by the full meeting of the Council.But Von Finckenstein objected.Instead he and Shikongo lobbied other councillors ahead of last night’s meeting.It is the second time controversy has engulfed the search for the city’s top administrator.Sources said the post had to be advertised twice after Taapopi’s application was reportedly accepted late and some councillors complained.Taapopi is up against his counterpart at the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing, Erastus Negonga; Tsumeb chief administrator Boniface Mutumba; and former diplomat Tonata Emvula.The Namibian understands that Von Finckenstein’s lobbying is said to have resulted in the Management Committee recommending Taapopi, although other councillors wanted a compromise that would see more than one choice put to the Council meeting.It is not clear why the two have been pressing for Taapopi.It has been previously reported that there are those in Government who favour Taapopi who they would like to see get the City Police up and running.When asked about this, Von Finckenstein said: “That is certainly your own information.The decision will be taken by Council.”He was only prepared to confirm that interviews took place on Monday.Shikongo said he would only speak about the issue after the weekend.The two councillors are high on Swapo’s list of candidates and are expected to be returned as councillors after today’s elections.One of the opposition councillors said: “The management only makes recommendations.They cannot influence us.I will speak my mind, even if it means that we deal with orders from a Minister, and make sure that the right candidate is appointed.The knives are out on this one.”