By Elvis Muraranganda 

The corridors of the Grootfontein municipality are said to be marred by accusations, counter-accusations, tribalism, nepotism and outright division between the town council and the administrators, as a result of an ongoing recruitment process for the position of chief executive officer (CEO).

Councillors are accusing the office of the acting CEO Indileni Lungameni and the human resources manager Martha Krispus of handpicking two alleged favourite candidates out of a total of 22 applicants who had applied for the coveted position. The position of CEO became vacant after the municipality suspended Kisco Sinvula in 2022 on a string of charges including bribery, insubordination, fraud and abuse power. However, in early 2024, the two parties parted ways with Sinvula walking away with a golden handshake of N$2.9 million, to much opposition from the council and the Grootfontein residents. Lungameni has since been acting in the capacity. 

Eight months ago, Lungameni was quoted in the media announcing interviews of shortlisted candidates at the time and promised that the vacancy will be filled soon. Whistleblowers have it that during that round, only five people were shortlisted and of those, three withdrew from the race while the remaining two were deemed  unqualified.  

Due to this, the position had to be re-advertised and according to council insiders, a total of 22 candidates applied this time around, however, only two applicants were shortlisted for interviews, which were contacted on Thursday.
The latest spell of conflict between the council and the administrators, centres around an alleged decision to exclude councillors from the entire recruitment process.

It is further alleged that qualified candidates were sieved in the process due to their tribal orientation and the shortlisted candidates are from a preferred tribe. This has led to the matter being discussed at an emergancy council meeting on Thursday.
A seemingly frustrated Grootfontein mayor Talitha Garises told Confidente that she has tried her best to intervene in the matter and is no longer willing to get involved.

“Let me direct you to the CEO of the public relations officer. I do not want mangle with that problem. It gave me headaches. Please find out from him what transpired. I tried my best but I do not want to say anything about that, I do not want to comment [further],” said Garises.

Another, councillor, Elizabeth Kastoor lambasted the entire process, adding that it is being carried without the input of council, which in terms of section 27(1), of the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992, plays a critical role in the final appointment of the successful candidate.

“As we are talking the two people are being interviewed by HR. I do not know who the panellists are. Council is in the dark. We do not know the candidates as well,” Kastoor explained. “My wish is for Grootfontein to get a substantive CEO. It is the only way that we can save council at the pace at which it is going now. Only a CEO will come and rescue Grootfontein Municipality. “But then the process is not free and fair. So far, council is the appointing authority of a CEO but we do not even know the names of the candidates. We are not even invited to come and observe the interview process.”  

However, the chairperson of the council management committee Lovisa Iyambo had a different tone to the matter.
“I do not get involved in shortlisting and interviews as chairperson of the management committee. I only get involved when I have to approve the minutes of the process,” Iyambo noted. When contacted for comment Lungameni refered queries to Garises, whom he says has been briefed, while Krispo directed questions to Lungameni.