Walvis ordered to appoint new acting CEO

Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni has ordered the Walvis Bay municipality to reverse the appointment of David Uushona as its acting chief executive officer (CEO) and instead appoint one of its general managers to that position.Uushona is the current manager of solid waste and environmental management.Since he does not serve on the municipality’s executive structure, the current arrangement effectively means Uushona’s superiors now have to report to him.The Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) wrote to Uutoni on 9 July, seeking his intervention in the matter.In its letter, the union said the appointment is contrary to the standing council resolution stipulating that only general managers can act in the position of CEO.“In a meeting held between Napwu and the municipal council, it was highlighted that the current appointment contravenes the standing council resolution. Napwu has strongly advised the management committee to rectify this appointment to align with the council&#039;s resolution. Despite our efforts to address this issue, we were unable to achieve a satisfactory resolution,” the letter reads.Minister&#039;s ordersUutoni wrote to the municipality last Thursday, directing the council to “rectify such anomaly and report back to my office on how this is being rectified on or before 31 July 2024”.In a letter addressed to mayor Trevino Forbes, the minister wrote: “Kindly be informed that your council&#039;s decision to appoint a manager as an acting chief executive officer is contrary to the established hierarchy, reporting channels and norms, notably that a manager (subordinate) or junior-ranked staff cannot be appointed in an acting capacity while a general manager is available."Municipal insiders told Namibian Sun it is unlikely a new acting CEO will be appointed, as Victoria Kapenda, formerly from the Tsumeb municipality, will assume her role as substantive CEO on 1 August.Long-standing grievance The municipality has been without a substantive CEO since December 2020, when the then-CEO, Muronga Haingura, was suspended.This is not the first time this issue has plagued the municipality.In November 2022, municipal employees staged a demonstration demanding the council appoint a new CEO, claiming Uushona is not fit to hold office because he is not part of executive management."We, the employees, still want to know why the council opted to appoint the manager to act in the position of CEO, while there are general managers,” the employees said in their petition.Since 2020, the municipality has had three acting CEOs, namely, finance general manager Frans !Gonteb, David Uushona and John Esterhuizen.

Walvis ordered to appoint new acting CEO

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-03

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Walvis ordered to appoint new acting CEO

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-03

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