Andrew Kathindi
City Police chief, Abraham Kanime, who, this week, started his duties under a new three-year contract, informed Windhoek Observer that his age should not be an issue as he is not the only public servant above the retirement threshold.
Kanime, who already turned 60, last month, resumed his duties following a much-publicized conflict between himself and City of Windhoek Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robert Kahimise, over the renewal of his contract. The age of retirement for public servants in Namibia is 60.
“You want to say I’m the only person who is in a government service, or in public service beyond that? So why or why not me?,” he said.
Kanime, who in January wrote and sent in his letter of resignation after close to 20 years as the chief of City Police, said while he will not stop doing things differently, this time around he is going to make sure there is a plan in place for his successor.
“That really needs to be in place and we need to talk about the issue of a succession plan and the issue of the training college that we have to put in place. But operationally it will be as usual, we really try our level best to make sure that we impact in all those areas, such as crime prevention, traffic law enforcement and by law enforcement.”
Kanime’s new nearly N$200,000 a month contract is shrouded in mystery, amid indication as part of his new contract, he has the option of reporting to the council management committee and not the City Council CEO.
Kahimise suspended Kanime in 2018 on allegations of misappropriation of public funds. Their relationship has deteriorated since then; however, Kanime was adamant that it will not affect his work efficiency.
“We are professionals and it’s not about me and the CEO. There’s work to be done and therefore, we have to do what is required of us. So, all those issues would not hamper the performance of what I am supposed to do. The City Police is established in terms of the Police Act and therefore, the common standard or guide governing the security agencies in the public of Namibia to apply. The CEO is more administrative while operational duties, I should be in charge. And again, the alignment is proper,” the Chief told Windhoek Observer.
Kanime’s contract renewal comes after then Secretary to Cabinet, George Simataa, who ironically also received an extension after turning 60, urged government and public enterprise employees to leave once they have reached the retirement age.
“All staff members shall be retired on attaining such age [60] except if approval for the extension of service beyond such age is granted by the Prime Minister, on recommendation of the Public Service Commission,” he noted in a memo on public service management last year.
