Otjiwarongo pastors dismayed by local authority councillors

OTJIWARONGO, 26 JUL – The pastors’ forum of Otjiwarongo on Wednesday submitted a petition to the town’s local authority councillors expressing their unhappiness at how the appointment of a human resource officer has been handled.
The Otjiwarongo Municipality’s management committee comprises of its chairperson, Hilda Jesaja and Gottlieb Shivute and Sonia Iyambo as ordinary members.
Town mayor, Bennes Haimbondi and his deputy Moderatha Shaduka serve on it by virtue of their positions.
In the petition, also submitted to the governor’s office, the pastors accuse the five local authority councillors serving on the management committee of being “divisive and tribalistic” because they allegedly rejected the top candidate because of her tribe and gender.
The C-3 band post was advertised internally after a staff member was promoted to a more senior level.
Four candidates were interviewed on 08 June this year and the top candidate was a woman who works in the municipality’s human resources department, while the second-best candidate was a man who works in its finance department.
The appointment was however put on hold indefinitely as the councillors could not come to an agreement on who should get the position between the top two candidates, with some saying balance is needed in the department where all the staff members are from one tribe.
Shivute at the time also said he suggested that the councillors consider gender balance as only women are currently employed in the department.
Nampa last month reported that the five council members, departmental strategic executives and chief executive officer Ismael /Howoseb on 20 June held a meeting where the decision to not appoint someone was taken.
It is alleged that some of the management committee members preferred the second candidate on the basis that he is not from the same tribe as those already in the department, while others are demanding the appointment of the candidate who scored the highest.
Jesaja in an interview last month said her council members during the meeting unanimously resolved to put the position on hold indefinitely, but did not say why.
Deputy Mayor Shaduka said she agreed to the decision because the entire HR department is from one tribe and added that balance is needed.
The pastors’ forum said their decision is based on tribal and gender lines and “needs to be condemned by all peace-loving citizens.”
“As spiritual leaders of Otjiwarongo, we support the appointment of employees based on their merits instead of on tribal lines or gender.”
The forum also called on Otjozondjupa Governor, Otto Ipinge, to guide the municipality and resolve the matter amicably.
Ipinge confirmed receipt of the petition.
(NAMPA)