NNN persists with jobs for pensioner comrades

Last week’s rare parliamentary veto of the government’s habit of appointing senior public servants, hastily and without proper scrutiny, appeared to be a revolt against the aged.

It became obvious that at the core of the fallout and Swapo’s humiliation is the argument that has been brewing in Namibian political discourse for the last 20 years. 

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare called on the National Assembly to endorse ambassadors Patrick Nandago, Linda Scott, former deputy minister Lidwina Shapwa and retired Office of the Prime Minister senior official Gerson Kamatuka, to be appointed as Public Service Commissioners.  

Nandago is designated as the chairperson of the commission. All of the nominees are over 60 years old. 

AR leader Job Amupanda was joined by IPC’s Nelson Kalangula and PDM leader McHenry Venaani who took issue with the age of the nominees, especially the fact that they have all reached the age of retirement based on the public service’s rules. 

The fact that all four are considered seasoned administrators with some form of pedigree did not help them. The youthful parliamentarians would have none of it and insisted on younger people to be appointed in those positions. 

Historically, the public service commission has always been headed by a senior figure who is a seasoned administrator and has leadership experience in especially areas related to people management. But even that fact was not enough for Amupanda who took issue with the fact that Nandago, who is earmarked to take charge as chair of the public service commission is 67 years old and he would like to see the role occupied by someone younger. 

Interestingly, Willie Britz, the first chairman of the Public Service Commission in an independent Namibia, has remained the youngest person to occupy the position 36 years later. 

He was 50 years old when he assumed the role and retired six years later. He was followed by Joseph Ithana, who was 59 when he assumed the role of chairman in 1997. Ithana retired from the role at the age of 67 and was replaced by seasoned diplomat Eddie Amukongo who was 61 when he took the reins in 2006. Amukongo left at 71 in 2016. 

He was then replaced by Markus Kampungu who was 55 when he took over in 2017 and stepped down at the age of 61 early in 2023. 

Salmaan Jacobs, the last person to have occupied the position, was 65 when he took charge early in 2023. A corruption conviction meant he did not finish his five year tenure. 

ALLERGIC TO YOUTH 

Amupanda’s pro-youth agenda is not new. In fact, one of the key reasons for being booted out of the ruling party in 2015 was because of his radical stance on youth empowerment. At the time he stated that the youth has an appointment with the future, while mocking the ruling party’s leadership about their age and lack of energy. 

Ngurare, during his days as head of the Swapo Party Youth League between 2007 and 2015 also called for youth to be trusted to occupy senior government posts. The Ngurare-led SPYL at times even referred to some of the party leaders as being “allergic to the youth”. 

Amupanda, Venaani and Co, will be hoping to use this momentum to push President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s hand for reforms that will see younger people being entrusted with state institutions. During her bid for the presidency, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s detractors weaponised her age. 

She was already past 70 when she ran for the country’s presidency. She, however, promised that age does not mean inability and she vowed to appoint not only young but capable people to help her lead. However, nearly 12 months into her tenure, NNN, as she is affectionately known, is now being accused of showing that allergic reaction to the youth. 

Apart from appointing a fairly youthful Cabinet, she did not fare so well in other appointments. She came under scrutiny for opting to get retired diplomats, some of whom are already 70, out of retirement to head Namibian missions abroad. 

Those in the know claimed that NNN opted for the tried and tested old guard in the hope that they are better placed to navigate the current stormy and precarious geopolitical waters. But what about back home? 

It is true that the president inherited a government of old people and majority of it was not her doing, however, the status quo reflects badly on her. 

Her predecessor, late president Hage Geingob is perhaps most guilty of sticking to the old guard and what he is familiar with. 

Geingob changed the law to ensure that Johannes !Gawaxab could walk into the central bank as governor despite already being over 65, which was the cap at the time. Geingob also kept his secretary to Cabinet, George Simataa in office until 2025, despite the seasoned yet controversial administrator turning 60 in 2020. 

In fact, a State-funded farewell party was already organised to be held at a lodge outside Windhoek at the time. Geingob, it appears, kept his team of State agency leaders so they retired when he left office, despite some of them being well past 60. Those who were past the age of 60 kept getting extensions. 

RELUCTANT, RECYCLED PENSIONERS

As a result, no one in the public service was ready for retirement anymore.

Media reports since last year, were filled with articles claiming that heads of parastatals and government agencies have been pleading for extensions. These include critical security and law enforcement agencies. 

In the media, it was reported that Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa declined National Housing Enterprise (NHE) boss Gisbertus Mukulu’s (60) bid for an extension, while his contract expires. 

NBC boss Stanly Similo’s (62) contract expired last year but he is still at the national broadcaster. The Social Security Commission (SSC) changed their internal policies in 2021 to ensure executive officer Milka Mungunda (66), who was 61 at the time, could continue working for another five years, while retirement age was 60. 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Natangwe Ithente allegedly tried to get NamPower chief Kahenge Simson Haulofu (63) another five year term but received resistance from the utility’s board. 

Epangelo mining also announced that founding managing director Eliphas Hawala (60) will only get an additional 12 months to his contract after being at the helm of the company for 18 years. Auditor General Junias Kandjeke (63) was 60 years old in 2023 when his 20-year-stay as the head of that institution was renewed for another five years. 

In the security cluster, President Nangolo Mbumba in 2024 extended Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), air marshal Martin Kambulu Pinehas (64) with an additional three years, while at the same time also extending inspector general of police Joseph Shikongo (62) with an additional three years as well. 

Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa (66) got a 12 month contract late last year, while she was initially set to retire during 2020.

The three top officials at the Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa (63) and his deputy Erna van der Merwe (65) remain in office since founding the graft busting agency in 2006. Media reports indicate that Noa is still interested in remaining at the commission for an additional five years. While the executive director at the commission, Tylves Shilongo (65) is still on active duty. 

At the end of the day, the government appears to have failed at succession planning at best or unless there is something more nefarious at play as Amupanda seems to suggest.