City CEO job: The big names who lost out

MATHIAS HAUFIKU WINDHOEKAt least 61 people from several sectors, mainly parastatal executives and senior civil servants, applied for the City of Windhoek’s CEO position.This includes four audacious applicants whose highest qualification is a grade 12 certificate – despite the position requiring a Master’s degree and a minimum of 10 years corporate experience, amongst other things.The list of applicants, obtained by Namibian Sun, surfaced amid claims that qualified people from certain demographics were deliberately not shortlisted.One of the leading critics of the process, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillor Sade Gawanas, said the process “lacked integrity”.On one of her social media crusades bashing the process, she said: “For the integrity of the process and those who applied for the position of CEO at the City, I will not release the list, but I swear that those handpicked for the position will have to run through hell fire and holy water”.She also at some point claimed that her hard copy of the list of applicants was confiscated by Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda.“[I] received the CEO position applicants via email from human resources as we had previously asked and upon printing the list to look through, the printer jammed. I asked an intern to fix it and bring it to me the next morning, as it was already 17h00.“The next morning, I was informed that the list was confiscated by the mayor because apparently I shouldn't have that list,” she wrote on her Facebook page on 30 September.Big namesGawanas also questioned the veracity of the number of applicants.“I reiterate, where are all those who applied? I want to know whether 68 was the total of applicants in the whole of Namibia?” she questioned.The list in Namibian Sun’s possession indicates that only 61 people applied.They include University of Namibia’s (Unam) former pro-vice chancellor for finance and administration Boniface Mutumba; former Oshakati town council CEO Werner Iita, and former City of Windhoek CEO Robert Kahimise, who currently works as the CEO of regional electricity distributor Cenored.Civil servants such as Tileinge Nghaamwa (trade ministry), Joyce Mukubi (works and transport deputy executive director), Gerard Vries (education), Petrus Muteyauli (environment), Medusalem Nandjembo (urban and rural development), Lisho Mundia (higher education), Charles Sanzila (finance) and Enid Hanze (education) were also in the mix.Executives serving at parastatals include Namene Kalili (Road Fund Authority), Alfeus Shikongo (Unam), Jackpelins Muundjua (Namibia University of Science and Technology), Israel Iilende (Government Institutions Pension Fund) and Kavezemburuka Veii-Mujoro (New Era Publications Corporation).Roads Authority boss Conrad Lutombi and his subordinate Kazarus Kunugab, who works as a senior engineering manager at the agency, also threw their names in the hat.Meanwhile, the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam) executive director Maria Nangolo, Dr Eino Mvula from NamWater) and Alfeus Siyamba from the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (Amta) also made up part of the list, along with Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) duo Fillemon Immanuel and Sylvanus Nambala.Stepping upFrom the local authorities, applicants included Moses Matyayi (Otjiwarongo municipality), Kisco Sinvula (Grootfontein municipality) and Junias Jakob (Oniipa town council). All three are CEOs at their respective town councils.Private sector hopefuls included Makalani Fund manager head Salomo Hei, Free Press of Namibia managing director and editor Tangeni Amupadhi and Standard Bank’s Sigrid Tjijorokisa as well as Charmill Zamuee (Global Advisory Alliance consultant), Garden Hengua (Carapau Fishing) and Hertitha Muyoba (Namibia Dry Dock and Ship Repairs).Seth Boampong Panti from Ghana was the only foreigner who applied for the job.Out of the 61, only Matyayi, Lutombi, Mvula, Mukubi and Zamuee were shortlisted and interviewed.

City CEO job: The big names who lost out

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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City CEO job: The big names who lost out

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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