Rundu acting CEO resigns

Sikongo Haihambo, who has been the acting CEO of the Rundu Town Council since September 2018, today resigned from the position.
Haihambo told Nampa in an exclusive interview on Tuesday he decided to leave the council, which has seen a lot of infighting recently.
“From a political perspective for the last six months, I do not see us doing the right thing. There are still tugs of war and people pulling from different directions,” he said, referring to the management committee of the town council which is still incomplete.
The acting CEO said his intention was to serve for six months as stipulated in his original contract.
His six contract lapsed at the end of February this year but the council approached him to extend his stay, to which he agreed.
“I agreed because my mind was very clear that had I gone at that time when the councillors were not talking to each other, it would have been worse,” Haihambo explained.
He said he is not in the business of dropping organisations or responsibilities. Hhowever, for the last six months, he did not see the council “doing the right things.”
The swearing-in of the third member of the Rundu Town Council’s management committee failed to take place here last Thursday, after those earmarked for the position failed to show up.
The third slot was expected to be filled by the Swapo party members’ former deputy mayor Ralf Ihemba, former mayor Verna Sinimbo and Reginald Ndara from the Rundu Concerned Citizens Association.
However, Ihemba and Sinimbo did not show up for the swearing-in ceremony.
The management committee only has two members currently and these are the chairperson of the management committee, Anastacia Antonio, and Faustinus Wakudumo of the All People’s Party.
The Rundu Town Council failed to elect a third member to the management committee in March after Ihemba declined nomination as a member.
Sinimbo also declined nomination to the committee in early February, where the council elected Isak Kandingu as mayor of the town, defying Swapo Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa’s directive for them to retain the status quo.
Haihambo tendered his two months’ notice to Kandingu as there is no management committee in place.
Kandingu confirmed receiving the acting CEO's resignation, stating that he is very unhappy as Haihambo was the right candidate who could have helped with the development of the town.
“Because of the political fights within council, Haihambo wants to leave and we cannot blame him,” the Rundu Mayor said.
-Nampa

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