Councillors divided on appointment of new Municipal Council of Mbabane CEO
WITH six months having already elapsed to hire a new Chief Executive Officer for the Municipal Council of Mbabane, Councillors are still divided more than a month after a consultancy firm delivered its report and the name of the preferred candidate.
The consultancy firm, JBH Management Consultancy, based in Ezulwini, is among the most highly regarded in the country.
The councillors, who sought legal opinions from two reputable law firms, went to report to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Apollo Maphalala last week that the process was still ongoing despite an Urban Act ruling that a CEO should be hired within six months after the last one leaves office.
The Eswatini Financial Times has reliably gathered that the preferred candidate for the Councillors scored lower marks amongst the top three candidates which has caused a dilemma. That has resulted in the delay of the appointment of the CEO.
“The Councillors went to two different legal firms who advised them to stick to what the consultant report had stated yet the person who scored the highest mark is not their favourite candidate. This is what is causing the delay,” a source close to the matter told the publication.
A questionnaire on the matter was sent to Municipal Council of Mbabane Public Relations Officer Lucky Tsabedze but he had not responded by the end of business on
Friday.
Mayor Vusi Tembe said the process of hiring the new CEO was a work in progress.
“I acknowledge that we should have hired the CEO within the six months as you mentioned and we are trying to rectify that. By next week, it will be out in the open. I can say it is at an advanced stage now and we are hoping to conclude everything by Wednesday. Call me next week,” Tembe said.
Minister Maphalala confirmed to the Eswatini Financial Times that he did meet the Councillors last week and they delivered a progress report on the matter.
“They reported that they are still working on it and as a Ministry, ours is to play an oversight role or to give guidance, not to meddle in their affairs. They will let us know once they have concluded everything,” Maphalala said. The minister disputed reports that two different reports were submitted by the Councillors.
Recruitment
“Only one report was submitted and we applied ourselves when we went through it and advised them. That’s all I can say on this matter,” the Minister added. The recruitment exercise is being conducted to replace longserving former CEO Gideon Mhlongo, whose term of office elapsed late last year. In terms of the Urban Government Act of 1969, a council is mandated to appoint a fit person to be town clerk or CEO upon such terms and conditions as it may determine. The Act stipulates that the town clerk is the chief executive and administrative officer of the Council and, unless otherwise provided, shall have the charge and custody of and be responsible for all books, deeds, records and other documents of the Council.
“The appointment of a person as town clerk and the terms and conditions of such appointments is in all respects subject to the approval of the minister. The town clerk shall not, except with the consent of the minister, perform the duties or exercise the powers of the town treasurer,” reads part of the Act.
The Act further stipulates that no person holding the office of town clerk, town treasurer, medical officer of health or town engineer shall be removed from office unless and until such removal has been decided upon by a majority of councillors present at a meeting specially convened for the purpose and the number of members voting in the majority is at least one-half the membership of the full council. “The removal from office of a person holding any of the offices is subject to the approval of the minister,” the Act stipulates. In accordance with the provisions of the Urban Government Act, the duties of the CEO or clerk include being responsible to the management committee for the proper carrying out of all directions of the council and the management committee.