Uutoni blocks Lutombi appointment

The City of Windhoek was dealt a major blow this week when urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni rejected its recommendation to endorse seasoned executive Conrad Lutombi as the capital’s new chief executive officer.Uutoni wants the municipal bosses to answer to several alleged irregularities around the recruitment process before he makes his final decision.In a letter to Windhoek mayor Sade Gawanas on Tuesday, he asked her to share the outcome of the investigation of which she informed him in a letter dated 15 June, and how this has influenced and changed the council decision to appoint Lutombi.Ironically, during a recent council meeting, the mayor told the media that they had investigated the allegations around the recruitment and submitted the full findings to the minister.Several council and management members, however, told this publication that there was no investigation conducted as claimed by Gawanas.I want answersUtoni said he has also received complaints from the Namibia Local Authority Workers Union, which questioned how the final five candidates outperformed the shortlisted candidates.Allegations include the involvement of Lutombi’s alleged close friend and human resources manager George Mayumbelo in the recruitment process, particularly the fact that he reportedly gave Lutombi a score of 80% in the interview process - the highest of all the candidates.“It is further alleged and is visible from the documents received from your office that Mayumbelo was not only a member of but also chaired both the shortlisting committee and interview panel.“Why this was found necessary and allowed by the council?” the minister wanted to know.Mayumbelo has since been appointed as the municipality&#039;s acting CEO.Utoni also asked Gawanas to explain how the 20 candidates were reduced to five as well as her quote in local newspapers that her predecessor, former mayor Job Amupanda, allegedly took files with information about the CEO recruitment process home with him.Bias and favouritism“There is no mention of this incident and how it has been dealt with by the council. If true, the alleged act may be a contravention of the selection and recruitment regulation. Please provide details of what you spoke about and how it has been handled or resolved by the council.“[About] bias and favouritism in the shortlisting or selection of applications, please provide details on this and how your concerns - if any - have been resolved,” he wrote.The mayor was also asked to explain whether some members of the municipal council were allowed to question the candidates during the public interview session, and, if true, why this was allowed.The CEO recruitment has been dragging on for about two years amid squabbling and alleged conniving between councillors and executive committee members, a situation that has deeply divided the council and resulted in the management committee being dissolved.The Independent Patriots for Change-led management committee was accused by Amupanda of wanting to push an agenda, and having allegedly handpicked its own candidate - “a white man from the coast”.On the other hand, Gawanas accused Amupanda of confiscating a list of applicants for the CEO position.jemima@namibiansun.com

Uutoni blocks Lutombi appointment

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-09

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Uutoni blocks Lutombi appointment

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-09

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