Mbumba recused himself from nephew’s job discussion – presidency
President Nangolo Mbumba recused himself from two Cabinet sittings that discussed the proposed appointment of his nephew Idi Itope as CEO of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN), State House said.
After Itope’s appointment was initially rejected by Cabinet last month amid claims that he was not the best candidate from the interview process, he is now poised to lead the state procurement body.
Mbumba’s press secretary Alfredo Hengari told Namibian Sun that the president, cognisant of conflict of interest, recused himself from the Cabinet sessions that discussed the appointment.
“The president recused himself on both occasions. I think it just shows the kind of leader he is. He wanted the process to be above board and not to be tainted by potential allegations of impartiality,” Hengari said.
Itope’s name was presented to Cabinet in March by public enterprises minister Ipumbu Shiimi for approval as CPBN CEO, but the matter was deferred after allegations that candidates who scored higher than him in the interviews were overlooked.
Purely malicious
In a statement last week, CPBN said these allegations were a misrepresentation of the facts and purely malicious, with the intent to cast doubt on the integrity and credibility of the recruitment process.
The statement said Itope scored 34.57%, 14% and 14.55% in three phases of the interview, resulting in a final score of 63.12%.
Calvin Muniswaswa came second with an overall score of 60.16%, while Michael Humavindu came in third with 58.03%.
“It is evident that the candidate who emerged as the highest-scoring candidate after all three phases of the recruitment process was Itope,” Johanna Kambala, CPBN spokesperson, said.
Other candidates were Audrin Mathe and Richwell Lukonga.
After Itope’s appointment was initially rejected by Cabinet last month amid claims that he was not the best candidate from the interview process, he is now poised to lead the state procurement body.
Mbumba’s press secretary Alfredo Hengari told Namibian Sun that the president, cognisant of conflict of interest, recused himself from the Cabinet sessions that discussed the appointment.
“The president recused himself on both occasions. I think it just shows the kind of leader he is. He wanted the process to be above board and not to be tainted by potential allegations of impartiality,” Hengari said.
Itope’s name was presented to Cabinet in March by public enterprises minister Ipumbu Shiimi for approval as CPBN CEO, but the matter was deferred after allegations that candidates who scored higher than him in the interviews were overlooked.
Purely malicious
In a statement last week, CPBN said these allegations were a misrepresentation of the facts and purely malicious, with the intent to cast doubt on the integrity and credibility of the recruitment process.
The statement said Itope scored 34.57%, 14% and 14.55% in three phases of the interview, resulting in a final score of 63.12%.
Calvin Muniswaswa came second with an overall score of 60.16%, while Michael Humavindu came in third with 58.03%.
“It is evident that the candidate who emerged as the highest-scoring candidate after all three phases of the recruitment process was Itope,” Johanna Kambala, CPBN spokesperson, said.
Other candidates were Audrin Mathe and Richwell Lukonga.
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