‘Progressive forces’ clip Kanime’s wings

MATHIAS HAUFIKU WINDHOEKCity police chief Abraham Kanime will be stripped of key decision-making powers in finance, legal and human resources departments after City of Windhoek councillors last week resolved to hand some of these functions back to the municipality.Kanime has for years been fighting to retain the functions under his watch, citing security reasons, and has been receiving protection from Swapo councillors who supported him to keep those functions under his control.But City executives were not happy that the City Police is allowed to operate like an autonomous entity instead of a department of the municipality.Kanime also refused to report to the former CEO Robert Kahimise.With Swapo not leading it any more, the opposition-led council rubber-stamped the decision to hand the functions back to the municipality at a special council meeting held last Thursday.“Council resolves to centralise the human resources, finance and legal functions under a single corporate structure with the view of ensuring consistency in the application of council policies and practices,” municipal documents in which the resolution is outlined read.RestructuringActing CEO George Mayumbelo and the human resource and corporate services executive have also been tasked to restructure the City Police.The restructuring, according to the terms of reference, includes appointing a head and overhauling the grading structure and job evaluation processes.“It must be noted that the restructuring of the department of City Police is prompted by a number of human resources-related matters that border on non-compliance within the department that needs to be investigated,” the document read.Council also wants a qualification audit conducted on City Police personnel as part of a gap analysis exercise, which would further inform talent management efforts, job profiling and work study interventions.“This memorandum should not be regarded as an investigation report on the conduct of the employees, but an exposition of the facts leading to the writ of execution by the employees,” it reads.Kanime has been at odds with management and councillors over the years.Last January, he resigned and returned to the City Police a few months later. He has also exceeded the retirement age of 60.Efforts to get hold of management committee chairperson Fillemon Hambuda and Kanime proved futile.

‘Progressive forces’ clip Kanime’s wings

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-29

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‘Progressive forces’ clip Kanime’s wings

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-29

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