The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has ordered the Outjo Municipality to re-advertise for the position of Chief Executive Officer.

This follows allegations of irregularities and an alleged flawed interview process last year.

The municipality has been without a CEO since April last year after Josel |Urib retired. 

|Urib's contract was extended but abruptly cancelled in August last year.

A letter dated March 22 and issued by the Ministry's Executive Director, Daniel Nghidinua, directed Outjo Municipality to halt the recruitment process and re-advertise the CEO position.

The alleged irregularities came after one of the interviewee candidates, Mahne Kruger, alerted the Ombudsman about the unfair recruitment practice at the municipality.

The advertisement attracted 19 applications, of which four were shortlisted and only three were interviewed as one dropped out of the race.

Kruger alleged the interview process was more of a formality, saying the municipality already had a choice candidate who was already employed at the municipality and groomed to take over.

Another allegation is the announcement of a female candidate as CEO before the municipality's recommendations on May 29 last year.

Nghidinua says the process of shortlisting, interviewing, and filling the vacancy should be finalised within three months.