Tsumeb mayor Mathews Hangula has defended the appointment of Ondonga Traditional Authority secretary Frans Enkali (64) as acting chief executive (CEO) of the town’s municipality.
Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Hangula said Enkali, who retired from the public service four years ago, was found capable to lead the municipality.
Enkali was appointed this month.
“The leadership applied wisdom and appointed Enkali as acting CEO until a substantive CEO is appointed,” Hangula said.
Hangula was unable to specify when the new CEO would be appointed. However, he did say the interviews have already been conducted and the process could still take around a year.
Enkali replaced Victoria Kapenda, who was recently appointed as the CEO of the Walvis Bay municipality.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Enkali confirmed that he was approached by the council to temporarily run the municipality until a substantive CEO is appointed.
He said the interviews were conducted before Kapenda resigned.
“This is not the job that I have been looking for. I am on retirement and I am very much aware of the fact that I am retired. I was requested by the council to assist them while they appoint the new CEO. I did not come knocking looking for employment. No, I’m only here to serve for a short period of time until the new CEO is appointed,” he said.
Enkali asserted that he will continue to serve the nation wherever his services are needed because he spent years in exile studying and honing his skills.
“I will continue to serve, and even here I spend sleepless nights working more than young people. Mind you, I could’ve been a lecturer at institutions of higher learning but I’m not looking for employment. If people are looking for my services, I will decide whether to serve or not,” Enkali said.
He added that his main aim is to achieve the municipality’s goals.
“Even when I retired from the regional council, I did not cry for an extension. They should not worry about my appointment and if they have applied, they will soon be called to start their job,” he said.
He emphasised that his time at Tsumeb municipality will be short-lived and urged the nation to stop complaining over nonsensical issues, as he is merely rendering his services where needed.
The Tsumeb municipality, in a social media post two weeks ago, noted that Enkali’s “extensive background in local government makes him an ideal candidate to guide the Tsumeb municipality during this transition period until a permanent CEO is appointed”.
The municipality described Enkali, who previously served as Okahandja municipality CEO and chief regional officer of the Oshikoto region, as having 30 years’ experience in public service.
“We are excited to have Mr Enkali on board and confident that his expertise and leadership will steer the municipality towards continued growth and progress,” noted the municipality in the post.
In 2022, the Omuthiya Town Council wanted to appoint Enkali as acting CEO until a substantive CEO was appointed. The Namibian reported on the matter but the appointment did not go ahead.
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