Staff Writer
City of Windhoek Chief Executive Offer, Robert Kahimise has been offered the Central Northern Electricity Distributor (CENORED) top job, a move which could find the municipality without a head if he takes up the offer.
The development comes as Kahimise has had a turbulent time as CEO of the municipality, a position which could play a key part in his decision on whether to take up the CENORED offer.
“I did receive an offer but I have not resigned,” he told the Windhoek Observer.
When quizzed if he planned to take up the offer, Kahimise was tightlipped.
“I cannot comment on that,” he said.
City of Windhoek Mayor, Fransina Kahungu said she was not aware about the offer and on whether Kahimise planned to leave.
“I am not aware that he will leave. All I am aware of is what I read in the newspaper that two people were interviewed at CENORED, including my CEO. It’s pity if he has to leave now. As you’re aware, this is a time when the Municipality is at crossroads. This applies not only to finance, but this is the time when current local authority councilors’ terms are about to end.
But this is also the time when Windhoek Municipality has a lot of very good projects to be carried out, so it’s not really the time where you need to change senior officials,” she told the Windhoek Observer.
Kahungu said council procedures if Kahimise was to exit the municipality, will require him to inform the council management committee in writing.
“If he is to leave, his resignation has to be tabled with the Chairperson of management committee, who then in return through the management committee will inform council. So as we’re speaking, council is not yet informed of the resignation of Mr Robert Kahimise,” she said.
Kahimise joined the City of Windhoek in February 2017 from Erongo Regional Electricity Distributor, where he had served since July 2013.
The City had been without a CEO since December 2014, after Niilo Taapopi’s retirement and had failed to recruit its initial preferred candidates NAMDEB CEO, Riaan Burger due to salary concerns.
Burger is reported to have turned down the council offer of N$2.7 million annually, as it was lower than what he is currently earning.
About 40 people are reported to have applied for the CENORED CEO position after it was advertised in January this year to replace long serving head, Mburumba Appolus.
The Central Northern Electricity Distributor supplies the Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions with electricity.
