Otjiwarongo debt collection jobs under microscope

Ester Kamati



OTJIWARONGO

Debt collectors employed by the municipality of Otjiwarongo face an uphill battle to retain their jobs, with debt having soared after their appointment.

In 2017, with N$43 million owed to it, the Otjiwarongo municipality hired a team of debt collectors on a contract basis to manage the issue. Debt now stands at about N$54 million.

This year, the municipality has created debt collection positions within its structures, and is reviewing the process with assistance from auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers.

So far, the positions have been advertised internally.

While some believe the team of debt collectors has been doing a good job and should be retained, other council members do not believe in simply handing over the positions.

Not qualified

One of the main issues, Namibian Sun has learnt, is that some of the debt collectors are not qualified as required under the new grading, despite their three-year working relationship with the council.

“Although the debt collectors are doing a great job, there are policies that need to be followed,” the municipality said, adding that the positions cannot be filled without first being advertised.

“The [positions] cannot be guaranteed based on our policies and regulations,” municipality CEO Moses Matyayi said.

“This would mean handing over jobs on a silver platter.”

Matyayi, who was CEO of Otavi town council, joined the Otjiwarongo municipality recently.

N$51m debt

He said the municipality would like a team of accountable people working towards debt collection, and encouraged the former debt collectors to apply if they qualify for the positions.

Matyayi said when he took office, municipal debt stood at N$51 million, despite debt collectors having been appointed.

He added that the debt collectors were aware that they had been employed on a contractual basis.

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